When you check your Facebook profile, do you have a notification that says “Who’s Looking At My Profile” on the top left? If so, you’re one of the lucky few to get a first look at the huge new Facebook Reveal feature–which is either a great thing or a terribly scary thing, depending on how you use Facebook.
Taking a page from one of the best features of LinkedIn, Facebook Reveal now allows you to see just which ex-boyfriend, future employer, or frienemy (ahem) has been checking out your profile.
I was lucky enough to get a look at the Beta this weekend and there are some interesting things about it. First of all, who hasn’t wondered just who’s been on your page? Especially now that Facebook shows up in Google search results. If nothing else, it’s a kind of fun, reverse voyeuristic look at who’s searching who.
(Speaking of which, it’s also a great reminder to lock down your privacy settings.)
But then there’s the flip side which I think is really important: If you’re checking out someone else’s profile, they’re going to know it–at least if they have the beta feature right now. So you definitely want to be careful what you’re reading on Facebook from now on. Looking at my own list, I was surprised to see how many names I knew–but even more so, how many names I didn’t know. (I am evidently really popular with the Latvian community.)
We’re not yet sure if Pages have the same access or it’s just individual profiles, but that would have its own implications. For example, if I want to go onto a political website’s Facebook page without “liking” it, I’d hate them to now be able to collect my name and information without my permission. Or really, start hitting me up with ads–as Facebook is wont to do with this feature.
Unlike LinkedIn, there’s really no way to “go anonymous” with Facebook Reveal just yet and so I’m sincerely hoping they add that feature in it. I think we all have the right to be able to search the web–or The Facebook–without every person knowing our business.
And suddenly I’m a little freaked out that maybe my college flame knows I was poking around to see what he’s been up to for the past 15 years or so. Eep.
Let us know what you think of the new Facebook Reveal feature if you have it. You can find more info about it on this page.
MY HEART STOPPED. Thanks, Liz.
Oh, that sucks.
April Fools! Good one!
Darn, there goes my stalking!
Nicely played. 🙂
Great one Liz!
Got me again for the second year in a row!
We aim to please!
I was just saying how I need to stay off the internet today, and then I fell for it. haha – well done!
Is this really an April Fool’s post? It seems totally believable to me!
You got me. This is the kind of April Fool’s joke I can take.
Hahaha, can you imagine? Now I have to share this on the profile I haven’t deleted. 🙂 Great gag, Liz.
I just made everyone in a meeting read this post cause i was so horrified.
hahaha
Best prank all day!
I got all excited about learning who the throngs of fanboys and fangirls are! But then I looked at the calendar.
oh oh oh… you should feel a TINY bit bad 😉
This is quite creepy.
Boom. Perfect!
My favorite part is the link to read more about it; takes you straight to Wikipedia’s April Fools Day page. Well played…
Gah! Boo on you! Was literally reading and thinking, “OK, shit, did I stalk anyone this morning?”
Next thing you’ll tell me people can read comments. You won’t get me next year!
Well… I fell for this and told two friends this morning about it! Thanks Liz.
You are a horrible person. HORRIBLE.
I am laughing so hard. I know it’s the third but I fell for this one HARD until I read the comments. I was thinking “Why am I not part of the Beta?”