Facebook is logging your relationship status

30/10/2010

Facebook is logging your relationship status

Over at Inside Facebook, they carry news of an announcement by Facebook that, in response to complaints from users, photographs of people's former partners will no longer be displayed in its 'Photo Memories' sidebar.

An algorithm in the Facebook software will block any photographs of those you were previously listed as "in a relationship with" from randomly popping up on your profile when you log onto the site. Sam Odio, Facebook's project manager had the following to:

"While users may still see Photo Memories of their former romantic partners if they didn’t declare the relationship on Facebook, as well of their current partner with that person’s former partners, the change should help heal the heartache for many users"

Hmm... If Facebook is able to prevent the website from displaying photographs of all your former partners, it therefore surely follows that the website is maintaining a list of your former partners in the first place. Spooky.

By Daniel Hamilton

30 Oct 2010 15:00:00 | Online privacy

2 Comments

They keep a record of your relationships so users can access their complete history. There is no analysis of this information and there is no way for advertisers to target users based on their relationship history (only current relationship status).

Retention in this case is simply their for the users convenience.

Posted by: Eric | 30/10/2010 at 09:29 PM

@Eric

Shortly before quitting Facebook almost a year ago, I deleted all my postings, de-tagged my photos, and generally did everything I could to erace all trace of myself from Facebook. I don't know whether I entirely succeeded in this endeavour. However, I have felt vindicated in my decision by almost everything I have since heard about Facebook.

Posted by: rc | 01/11/2010 at 10:49 PM

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