Facebook’s “Download Your Information” tool was first introduced in 2010. Users have first used this tool to retrieve all their videos and photos, wall posts, sent and received messages, and about 5 other areas of information that they shared. Downloadable as a .zip file, this tool allowed users to have a back up of everything they have uploaded to the social networking site.

With the continuing issues about the company’s access to private information and its advertising services, critics said Facebook should give out more statistics to its users. This means that the company should let users know exactly what information it stores about them in its database. This way, users would be aware of how much data they have shared so that they could have better control over it.

Giving in to the requests of privacy advocates, Facebook recently announced that it expanded the scope of the tool. This time, users will be able to download more detailed information about their social networking activities. Some of the areas of data that it will make available are the users’ previous names, any friend requests made, and IP addresses that they logged on from.

Advertisements are what bring money into the coffers of internet companies. It is hard to imagine how a company would ever become rich without it. Online advertising has grown into a billion-dollar industry that propels internet growth. More or less, 96 percent of Google’s and 85 percent of Facebook’s revenues are produced by this potent marketing tool.

Privacy issues have forced the government to keep an eye on advertising companies. Online advertisers are in hot water because the government wants to give internet users better control over their personal information. Under the policy of self regulation, the industry has flourished, which is why this is the same policy that most companies endorse. It means that advertising companies would police their own ranks as to the collection and use of personal information of consumers.

It is time for users to realize the price of privacy by giving away personal information just like that. It is unusual, but it seems that many users are ready to give up privacy just to save a few cents that is not worth a candy bar. In a research conducted, many users put more value on saving a few cents than defending their personal information. It can be said that only companies have figured out the actual price of personal information that they gather.

At present, marketers estimate the worth of personal information gathered by Facebook to be about $100 billion. This is a database of the chatting, browsing and buying habits of millions of its users. These were intentionally uploaded by users who were short-sighted enough not to see the long-term effects. Analysts say that today, personal data is being traded among service providers just like other merchandise. While users have given up their data for “free”, service providers make thousands of dollars out of it.

Have you ever realized that as more mobile apps go on the market, more new privacy concerns are raised? It is very easy for smartphone users to click on any application and download it without giving it a second thought. Not paying attention to the app’s terms and conditions, they simply accept all of what is contained in the fine print. In short, they have no knowledge of the privacy implications that go with using those products.

Service terms and security policies are mostly written by lawyers, which is why they make little sense to the lay man. Although many try to read the fine print, they end up abandoning the lengthy litanies of legal terms. The reason, of course, is obvious. It is because it is difficult for the lay man to understand. Thus, as more users ignore the importance of understanding those terms and conditions, more privacy concerns emerge.

The status of the proposed “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights” by the White House is still “undecided”. In spite of the necessity to offer better online protection, heated discussions and debates are still ongoing. Children who use the internet share a lot of information that could be turned and used against them. Music and TV personality Nick Cannon voiced this pressing concern during his appearance on Capitol Hill.

Cannon endorsed a Do Not Track Kids Act that will try to increase online privacy for children. In this bill are provisions that would define how websites, advertising agencies and cellular providers can use personal data of children. Some of the provisions are preventing these companies from using targeted ads for children and prohibiting them from tracking minors. The proposed act will effect changes to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998.

Wireless technology gives access to online devices such as smartphones and similar gadgets that store information on young consumers. Children become at risk to those who can take advantage of them, especially those whose parents have not consented or are unaware of what their children are doing. Tracking them on the internet is very easy and their whereabouts can be monitored without difficulty.

The astounding number of 800 million Facebook users can make one conclude that social networking is becoming a household name. These users can be classified in several ways – according to age, profession, online preferences, or even purposes in joining. There is no doubt that the internet giant has changed the lives of these users. Many say that their day would not be complete if they could not share pictures, post comments, visit digital links, and much more.

The thrill of having the social networking “party” everywhere puts pressure on those who are undecided about joining. Whether they are just technophobes or privacy advocates, the attraction to conform to what others are doing cannot be underestimated. There were those who for many years had not given up, but are now into making “friends” and look forward to accepting more. According to them, they should have discovered the benefits of a social network years sooner.

Those non-users give several reasons why some people snub Facebook. Some of them consider social networking as just a waste of time. Others are overwhelmed by all of the many social networking sites out there. They are undecided as to which one to choose that would give the best experience. Because of this, they believe that the best thing to do is to ignore them all.

It is becoming clear that the so-called “Do Not Track” concept actually means two different things to two different groups. To companies, it is as narrow as it would apply to targeted ads only. To consumers, it is to be totally free from being “followed” in whatever they do online. These two disjointed beliefs about the “Do Not Track” extent are still in the battleground of ideas. Internet companies are settled into thinking that consumers do not really understand what they would lose if they would not be tracked at all.

Google and online advertisers have announced their support to such technology, but made it clear that this was only for targeted advertisements. Because of this, people are not too happy, especially those who expected something wider in scope. It can be surmised that Google will still collect consumer data and sell this for specific purposes.

This issue about tracking and its implications on privacy has been going on for a long time. Actually, one privacy analyst, who is also an attorney, said that it is really about “do not target”. To use the term “do not track” would mean putting a total ban on consumer data gathering and use. However, companies assert that this would harm the industry that depends so much on advertising. It would also deprive consumers of their opportunity to have better online experiences through data tracking.

Different entities are conducting a number of studies and surveys on privacy concerns among social network users. These are intended to give a picture of how users view, or feel about their social networking behavior. The Pew Internet & American Life Project is one of these research bodies. In its report, the company said that users of social networking sites are becoming choosy when accept friends. They are also taking some extra time to scan the contents that are shown on their pages.

Two out of three of all internet users are interested in social networking as revealed in Pew’s findings. There was an increase in the number of individuals who have removed “friends” from their lists in 2009. Men deleted less “friends” than women. Also, more young people deleted “friends” as compared with those older users. All these statistics were gathered and presented as findings of studies that lasted one year.

An Associated Press spokesperson said that users show a higher degree of consciousness about comments posted by other people. This was shown by more users who decided to remove other people’s comments on their profiles. Pew also presented more proof by saying that a large number of users said that they “untagged” themselves from photos. This means that they prefer to remain more private than to be shown on other people’s pages.

As of March 1, 2012, Google’s new privacy policy will go into effect. This policy will be in place for all services Google supplies and will affect all information that Google has assembled for you before the implementation date. Any information assembled on you in the future is also included.

Up to now, your Google Web History, which includes all of your searches and every site you visited, was separate from your other Google accounts. With the new privacy policy, everything is combined. Since your searches could indicate your location, age, sexual orientation, health concerns, spiritual beliefs, etc., you may want to hinder this.

If you do not want Google to merge your Web History with your Google + or YouTube activity, you must delete everything that is in your Web History. Further, you need to stop any activity in your Web History from this time forward.

To do this, you can follow these steps:

To begin, you must sign in to your Google account.

Next, go to https://www.google.com/history

Now, choose the “Remove all Web History” button.

The last step is to click “OK”.

You will notice that you are pausing the Web History as well as removing the information from it. Until you choose to enable the Web History again, it will remain off.

Google will keep all of your information for an indefinite period if your Web History is enabled. When you disable Web History, your information will be cleared, to some extent, in 18 months. Also, when disabled, the customized search results that are usually sent to you will be stopped. The EFF’s (Electronic Frontier Foundation) suggestions in their Six Tips to Protect Your Search Privacy will assist you in reducing the information on you that Google will store.

If you have more than one Google account, you must follow these steps for each one. Removing and disabling your Web History does not mean that Google won’t store your information for their own internal use. Also, be aware that Google will send any information available on you to any law enforcement agency at the agency’s request.

Very soon, every Facebook user will be introduced to the latest “enhancement”, known as Timeline. Timeline has not yet been incorporated throughout the Facebook community, however, many people are already voicing concerns over the lack of privacy it will create. There is reason for their concern, but if you take the time to set the privacy controls, you regain some of the lost privacy.

Timeline’s main feature is known as “Maps”. This feature uses all the information from your account, both past and present, and displays a map of all your activities on your wall. This map includes any photos you’ve posted, events you’ve gone to and posted about, places you’ve been and people you know. This feature can’t be disabled. What this means for you is that anyone with access to your wall will be able to see where you have been and what you have been doing at any given point in time.

If you take the time to read Facebook’s Privacy Policy, it clearly states “We receive data from the computer, mobile phone or other device you use to access Facebook. This may include your IP address, location, the type of browser you use, or the pages you visit.” In other words, Facebook is not only “stalking” you, but it is also allowing everyone else to see what you’ve been up to.

Think of all the times you’ve updated your information. If you change jobs, you post it. If you move, you post it. Facebook has all that information, and this is what they will use to make your map. Even if one of your friends takes your picture at a party, using his or her cell phone with the GPS feature turned on, that picture and location will be used on your map.

If you use Spotify, every song that you listen to will be posted on your wall. There was some concern voiced over this, so Spotify has decided to give users the “private listening” option. This will block sharing of their information on Facebook, but you would need to opt out each time you restart the application, or if you don’t use it for any length of time.

Whenever you are sent an invitation to an event, and you RSVP on Facebook that you are attending, this information will be made public. Also, every click of the “Like” button sends this information to the product’s manufacturer. This manufacturer will then solicit your friends, hoping they, too, will “Like” their product.

Even your interest in current events will be made public. If you see that a friend has read an article that looks interesting to you, you may click on the link. If it is the first time you are using that app, you will be asked to allow the app to access your personal information. Since you’ve probably done this about a zillion times, you hardly even think before you click “Allow”. But, when you do this, Facebook knows what article you just read and will post it to your wall. Since you allowed the app to access your information that one time, after that, every time you use that app, the information will show on your wall, without again asking for permission.

It sounds really scary when you think about it. The world will know where you go and what you do. Just remember to thoroughly read the Privacy Policy as soon as Timeline is available to you. Once you finish reading, make sure you set your privacy preferences so that you will feel comfortable. Also, remember to not be so quick to click on the “Like” button.

With a little extra time and effort, you can make Timeline work for you while still keeping your privacy at a level where you feel comfortable.