“We may use information about you that we collect from other sources, including but not limited to newspapers and Internet sources such as blogs, instant messaging services, Facebook Platform developers and other users of Facebook, to supplement your profile. Where such information is used, we generally allow you to specify in your privacy settings that you do not want this to be done or to take other actions that limit the connection of this information to your profile (e.g., removing photo tag links).”

I’m pleased to hear that you agree with my argument. I like your wording of “opt-in” and “opt-out”–I think that captures the point more concisely than my own wording. On paper, the presence of privacy controls seems like a sufficient precaution for privacy concerns, but when users have to opt-out of voluntary disclosure instead of opt-in, the reality is that people are reluctant to take the initiative over matters that don’t immediately and obviously affect them.

I agree that the site is a worrying indication of the extent of our collective fascination with self-exhibition, self-promotion, and self-definition.