Social platforms operate on a business model based on data collection. To maximize their value, they configure new user profiles with the widest possible visibility. This means that, by default, your information is usually public or very accessible. Taking control requires a manual and often laborious review of the privacy settings on each network you use.
The Backend of Privacy: APIs and Default Permissions 🔧
Technically, this initial configuration is managed from the backend through permission flags associated with the user. When creating an account, the system assigns boolean values that define the visibility of fields like biography, friend list, or activity history. The APIs that manage this data usually have the privacy parameter set to public as the default value. Reviewing the settings is nothing more than sending POST or PUT requests to alter those flags to more restrictive states, an action that the graphical interface simplifies but that the platform does not encourage.
Sharing is Living, But Living Without Privacy 😅
It's almost touching how these platforms assume we yearn for a complete stranger to know what we had for breakfast, our pet's name, and our real-time location. Their default configuration screams blind trust in humanity. It seems they think creating a profile is like opening the curtains of your house for everyone to see, just in case someone is interested in your decor or your TV model. A very generous gesture, no doubt, but a bit peculiar for someone who just wanted to see memes.