In: Operations Management
Facebook collects massive amounts of data, which the CEO states, is used to improve the "user's experience." He also states that the user has control of their own data and privacy through available settings as mentioned in their Terms of Service. Do you agree or disagree?
The data that is collected by Facebook is used to target the users with relevant advertisements. Comparatively Facebook's focus is more on earning revenue through advertisements than on improving user's experience.
While it is true that the users have control of their privacy, it is not true that they have a control on their own data. Though privacy settings are available on the portal, the users have no control or minimal control of their data shared with advertisers. For example, Cambridge Analytica used Facebook data of millions of users to psychologically manipulate their voting behaviour.
Further, many people are aware of only the basic functionality of Facebook. They are not particularly aware of how to change their privacy settings. Facebook has unlimited access to and control of the data of all such people.
Overall Facebook is more focussed on earning revenues through advertisements and less focussed on safeguarding data and privacy of its users.