Facebook is once again in the midst of a controversy. The social media giant has just announced that a bug opened access to users’ private photos. Your photos may be places you never expected.
We spoke to locals to get their reactions and found ways to protect your Facebook account going forward. Facebook has been in the headlines several times for compromising users’ information. So, it’s important to know what steps you can take moving forward.
Facebook developers just revealed that about 6.8 million people have been affected by this incident.
Facebook is known for globally connecting people all over the world. It gives us advantages like keeping in touch and finding friends, but is the social media network forgetting to protect our privacy in the process?
On Friday afternoon, Facebook revealed that a software bug allowed access to up to 6.8 million users’ photos.
Facebook User Cory Cariuo says, “Yeah, I guess it would definitely make me feel a little weird. You don’t want that, especially if it’s your family or friends; that’s discomforting for sure.”
The company says the photos could have been accessed by 1500 apps. The only apps affected by this bug were ones Facebook approved to access the Photos API and that individuals had authorized to access their photos.
Usually, we have the option of sharing photos we feel comfortable putting online, but that seems to be a norm of the past.
Digital Media Strategist Sam Hilton says, “Focus on where you’re putting your information and making sure you’re using secure sites. That would be the difference between http and https. Make sure you are using https url’s when you’re buying something online. “
This software bug’s access includes photos that were never posted.
Facebook User Cortni Smith says, “…there’s some things out there that I can post, but I’m certainly not putting my kids out there and anything out there that I don’t want people to know. “
Experts believe that because Facebook caters to such a large global market, these issues are bound to happen.
Users who were affected were notified by an alert on Facebook. Facebook says they’re sorry this happened.
To read the full statement from Facebook on the matter, click here.
