Nobody Can Stop Facebook Because Nobody Understands Facebook

 By 
Pete Cashmore
 on 
Nobody Can Stop Facebook Because Nobody Understands Facebook
Mashable Image
Credit:

How do you explain the Open Graph to the average user so he or she can make an informed decision? Should we take pains to differentiate between the "Open Graph API" and the "Open Graph Protocol," or should we just gloss over the specifics to make the story halfway digestible to a reader who isn't either a web developer or a social media professional?

Every time Facebook changes its privacy settings, we write a 500+ word post explaining what all the dials mean. Every time, it's massively popular -- Sunday's article "HOW TO: Disable Facebook’s Instant Personalization” has more than 4,500 Facebook shares. Why the high demand for an explanation of what all this stuff means?

Have the nuances of online privacy become so complex that they're beyond the comprehension of mere mortals? I'm not saying that Facebook intends to cause confusion, but the complexities of the open vs. closed debate and the prescriptive vs. descriptive nature of the "everybody" setting effectively shut down public discourse.

For more social media coverage, follow Mashable Social Media on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!