It was years ago before they started locking down the data. I put together a web page I was going to post to show people what info they were releasing, but I felt I would get lynched by friends for posting it all.
Basically everything you see on yourself, plus pages you visit and like, groups you belong to, your picture, your friend list, as well as their friends, so it was really three steps out and included things not available through FB normally.
It was totally predictable this data would get collected and abused.
I generally don’t see the problem of a user being able to share information about himself with apps she wants to use.
That’s a fair product to build and provides lots of great value!
Now can it be abused...of course it can, a rouge app developer could try to use this data for whatever, or sell it. That’s a problem.
I think FB did a great job over the years though to improve UX for users to make it more clear what is happening and what information is being shared.
Back in the day you could for example get a users friend list for example (only public profile information though)...I think they did the right thing in limiting that to only users who also use the app.
It’s what makes apps like Spotify great...the fact that I can easily find my friends on it.
I think there is tradeoff in anything we build. And 2B people believe it’s a good tradeoff! And don’t tell me that users are stupid and don’t know...because then I am gonna flag you as stupid first :)
We also don’t sue Ford or the state that owns the streets for any accident that happens...that be nuts! We ask drivers and pedestrians to be responsible and that works for the most part. Of course there is the occasional deadly accident...but we accept that risk for the benefits of mobility.
Basically everything you see on yourself, plus pages you visit and like, groups you belong to, your picture, your friend list, as well as their friends, so it was really three steps out and included things not available through FB normally.
It was totally predictable this data would get collected and abused.