Facebook recently launched a new video to manage perceptions about its data protection and privacy policies. In the video, Facebook works to assure us that the privacy issues of yesterday will remain in the yesterday, so that we can continue to connect safely with friends again today. Data protection, privacy … fake news, fake followers, fake data. Facebook is a global brand. As business owners, you see your customers at each interaction, sometimes every day, and you probably know many of your customers by name. Your duty to prevent fake news and data infringement is even greater. In the era of fake news, be especially honest with yourself about what you offer and don’t exaggerate its effectiveness. We can no longer ask for forgiveness after the fact … ask for permission up front and only use data internally. Part of the problem with the Facebook data issue is that the brand isn’t perceived as being honest and transparent. Communicate your brand positioning publicly so that your consumers can buy into it and so that you can use it to guide all of your communications.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Facebook recently launched a new video to manage perceptions about its data protection and privacy policies. In the video, Facebook works to remind us why we all originally joined the social network … to connect with people from all stages and parts of our lives. And then to connect with their friends. And then to find others out there like us who we want to friend. And so on, and so on, and so on.
In the video, Facebook works to assure us that the privacy issues of yesterday will remain in the yesterday, so that we can continue to connect safely with friends again today.
Are we buying it? Do we believe that Facebook will correct its mistakes of the past and take our data and privacy more seriously? Is this one video enough to convince us?
Not sure about that, but the video did get me thinking. Data protection, privacy … fake news, fake followers, fake data.
Facebook is a global brand. What about small business owners and entrepreneurs. Does any of this apply to them? Does any of this relate to the relationship that small business owners and entrepreneurs have with their own customers?
It sure does!
I would argue that small business owners have a more personal duty to their customers than a mega-brand like Facebook. As business owners, you see your customers at each interaction, sometimes every day, and you probably know many of your customers by name.
Your duty to prevent fake news and data infringement is even greater. You owe safety, privacy, and accuracy to your customers, just as much if not more than Facebook does.
So, what do you do about it?
Be careful about exaggerating what you do.
It is…
COMMENTS