If you want it Google it

[Den]

Or maybe not

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1251217/Google-Buzz-redesigned-social-network-provokes-privacy-complaints.html

Don't you just love them   

[Gary]

Must admit Buzz is quite fun 

[Rik]

Google - gateway to everything about you...

[Technical Ben]

Serves them right for forcing it on customers.
I don't like upgrades, or new features being automatically assigned to accounts. What do they expect people to do if they automatically assign a friends list for Buzz? Was it that hard to have a "would you like to add these people, or add someone else?" question on the first login?
I'm sure the forum here has a "would you like forum emails" and a "would you like your email address private?" question on your first register.
Perhaps the CEO at Google can offer IDNets CEOs some Cash to give them advice? 

[Rik]

 

[bobleslie]

It's now easy to turn off Buzz at the bottom of your Google e-mail home page.

While you're being sensible, how about trying to delete your Facebook, Twitter and Friendfeed profiles?

You know it makes sense! 

[Rik]

Haven't you missed Friends Reunited, Bob?

[Glenn]

They keep pestering me, I signed up once upon a time.

[bobleslie]

And Friends Reunited. Thanks, Rik!  

[Rik]

NP.

[quandam]

It's now easy to turn off Buzz at the bottom of your Google e-mail home page.

While you're being sensible, how about trying to delete your Facebook, Twitter and Friendfeed profiles?

You know it makes sense! 

Absolutely Bob!

They are all a recipe for disaster, very dangerous indeed and their popularity will diminish as Friends United has done. To be avoided 

[zappaDPJ]

It will be interesting to see if they do diminish in popularity over time. At the moment it seems to be the reverse as they are becoming increasingly popular across the board. They are now widely used by large corporations especial in America.

Personally I have little or no interest in them although they do have comedy value when you come across something extremely stupid put up by someone well known who should know better 

[Gary]

Facebook is really useful for reconnecting with people you have lost contact with, they are not extremely dangerous Q, ignorance and clicking on dumb links are, just because some here cannot see the benefits of being able to find people you lost contact with is fine, I this week found an old sound engineer I worked with and its been great to catch up. That brightens my day, infact it made my year because within his groups were some other peeps I worked with, its good to go down memory lane. Not everything you read is what it seems, Facebook is a place you can get a virus if you click on a bad link maybe, so is google  both have their place.

[bobleslie]

Meanwhile, back in the real world, it seems that Buzz has security issues.

[Rik]

Surprise, surprise. 

[Inkblot]

......although they do have comedy value when you come across something extremely stupid put up by someone well known who should know better  

Ordinary users make goofs too!

http://failbooking.com/

[zappaDPJ]

Oh dear, there's some funny stuff there 

[quandam]

Facebook is really useful for reconnecting with people you have lost contact with, they are not extremely dangerous Q, ignorance and clicking on dumb links are, just because some here cannot see the benefits of being able to find people you lost contact with is fine, I this week found an old sound engineer I worked with and its been great to catch up. That brightens my day, infact it made my year because within his groups were some other peeps I worked with, its good to go down memory lane. Not everything you read is what it seems, Facebook is a place you can get a virus if you click on a bad link maybe, so is google   both have their place.

Gary

You and your friends are dealing with the format in the correct and above board way, however, many, in fact, thousands are  offering their most personal and intimate details to the World. Amongst those receiving this information are weirdos, nutcases, perverts, paedophiles, idiots, pillocks, headcases, bombheads etc etc etc etc to cultivate the information for their own gratification and for use as they feel fit.

The whole thing is very, very dangerous indeed and will no doubt end in a very serious incident. Finding old friends is great but these sites have underlying problems that really have not come to a head as we type. Definitely a serious accident waiting to happen

[quandam]

From a more recent thread: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8521598.stm

[quandam]

A little more evidence: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1252830/Family-home-trashed-Facebook-party-gatecrashers.html 

Not earth shattering but the thin end of the wedge, underlying problems beginning to come to a head?

[Rik]

She's not the first, Q, she won't be the last.

[quandam]

Absolutely Rik, but this is just a tip of a problem that is waiting to happen. The very second a child using these sites goes missing, abducted, commits suicide, is sexually abused or, heaven forbid somebody is murdered the whole social networking world will become persona non grata quicker than you can type 'LOL'.

[Rik]

I wish it would before that happens.

[zappaDPJ]

The crux of it for me is how careful do you want to be and how much information do you want to give away. Hiding behind a computer, something we are all doing to a greater or lesser degree, certainly brings out the worst in some people but as to the party property trashing, that's something that's always occurred and it'll continue, with or without social networks. The PleaseRobMe website is something a little more sinister and that really does highlight the peril of giving away too much information.

I'm fairly guarded about how much information I'll give away on the net. I'll rarely if ever give away my real name, not because I've got anything to hide, but because I've been on the receiving end of someone with a grudge who tracked me to my front door simply because I denied him access to a server.

Keeping track of people intent on causing havoc on-line is something I used to do for a living and it's quite amazing how much of a trail of information some people leave around. I believe social networking is here to stay and although I'm not a particular fan of it, I think as long as you think before you submit, it does have value.

[quandam]

Zap

I agree with you. These sites have great advantages, used correctly and sensibly, but as you and I know a high proportion using them do not  pause to think of the consequences of their actions for just one second.

The fact that there are extremely young and vulnerable contributors with uninterested/uncaring parents who, themselves probably don't have a clue about the possible dangers of the internet concerns me.

Like all things in life, common sense plays a massive part in our lives but sadly there seems to be an extreme lack of it these days.

[Rik]

We  shouldn't forget, either, that once it's out there it stays there. Things which seemed funny at 20 might come back to haunt at 40.