FACEMASH
For the past few years, Facebook has repeatedly come under fire for privacy issues. Most users are unaware of exactly how their data is being used. Our team has discovered that not a lot of users are educated about Facebook’s advertising preferences and some don’t even know they exist.
Our solution to this problem is a mobile app prototype. In order to educate users on what data is being used and how to change it, we’ve created a notification that pops up and allows users to check and change their settings. We believe this prototype is something Facebook would be interested in because it’s doable, good for their brand image, and will potentially resolve any trust issues consumers have with the company.
Duration
jan 2020 – apr 2020 (4 mo)
Tools
cpanel
wordpress
Skills
ux research, prototyping, web design, html, css
Team
jenny mckendry, toni pantone, jeff taylor-chang, dillon korman
Problem
Research
Surveys
Key Findings
An older participant said that they do not like the advertising side of Facebook because every time they view something online a picture or suggestion pops; they said that they don’t trust Facebook with their personal information and they are unaware of any of FB’s data privacy issues in the past.
A younger participant thought Facebook’s ad and privacy settings were easy to navigate, but they didn’t know they could be changed that much; they trust Facebook because their information online isn’t that valuable (no social security number, bank information, etc) and they ignore all social media advertisements anyway.
Methods
Solution
Our solution, the Ad Privacy “Checkup” System, incorporates sending users occasional notifications, allowing them to view and change their advertising settings and preferences.
The notification addresses the transparency issue while achieving three of our goals.
The notification page explains and breaks down the data used in targeted advertising and what they mean exactly. This also educates users about Facebook advertising and how changing the way your ads are selected does not change the number of ads. Lastly, our solution allow users to easily control and change their settings, making them more likely to trust Facebook and use it.
