As the firestorm around Facebook and its privacy issues continues, MySpace is making a push to simplify its privacy tools. In doing so, the ailing social network appears to be trying to exploit Facebook’s perceived flaws to woo users back to its platform.
Indeed, Mike Jones, copresident of MySpace, tipped the social-media giant’s hand when he announced the new privacy measures, noting that the last few weeks have been “fraught with discussion around user privacy on social networks.” MySpace, he said, is taking the opportunity to discuss its view of user privacy on MySpace.
Of course, MySpace itself has been in the media spotlight in years past for the dangers associated with children and teenagers sharing personal information with strangers. Did MySpace learn something from its history that could help it make a comeback in a social-media world where privacy is an ever-growing concern?
Simplifying Online Privacy
“We want our users to know we are planning the launch of a simplified privacy setting for our user profiles,” Jones said. “While we’ve had these plans in the works for some time, given the recent outcry over privacy concerns in the media, we felt it was important to unveil those plans to our users now.”
MySpace believes users want a simpler way to control their privacy. In the coming weeks, MySpace will strive to deliver that simpler way with what Jones calls a “more intuitive approach” that gives users more control over their information.
Specifically, the new MySpace privacy-setting options will include “public,” “friends only,” or “public to anyone 18 or over.” In making this change, Jones said MySpace will default the setting to “friends only” for any user who previously had any granular page setting to “friends only.” Users can change this option with one click if they choose.
MySpace Still Struggling
MySpace has fallen far…