Comments on: LinkedIn opts you into being used in advertisements; here's how to opt out http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 00:18:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Will Grant http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1186515 Will Grant Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1186515 For me it's not the data - it's the implication that I'm in some way endorsing a company without my consent. For me it’s not the data – it’s the implication that I’m in some way endorsing a company without my consent.

]]> By: jackie31337 http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1186417 jackie31337 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1186417 It could be worse: your security site could start spamming malware links in its automated, unmoderated Twitter feed. It could be worse: your security site could start spamming malware links in its automated, unmoderated Twitter feed.

]]> By: Will Grant http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1186366 Will Grant Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1186366 It's often thrown around on the web, but I've had trouble sourcing it aside from a few usernames. Anyone know? It’s often thrown around on the web, but I’ve had trouble sourcing it aside from a few usernames. Anyone know?

]]> By: Michel http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1186323 Michel Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1186323 Thanks for this head up.  I immediately changed this setting and sent them a feedback indicating my lack of appreciation of being by default assumed to agree to them using my photo (which doesn´t exist anyway) in their advertising. The only reason I have an account with them is curiosity. There is absolutely minimal information of mine on it and I cannot see it ever being useful to me. Thanks for this head up.  I immediately changed this setting and sent them a feedback indicating my lack of appreciation of being by default assumed to agree to them using my photo (which doesn´t exist anyway) in their advertising. The only reason I have an account with them is curiosity. There is absolutely minimal information of mine on it and I cannot see it ever being useful to me.

]]> By: Guest http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1186222 Guest Fri, 12 Aug 2011 02:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1186222 Just deleted my account, told them why.  Thanks for this heads-up.  Too bad - it was marginally useful, too. Just deleted my account, told them why.  Thanks for this heads-up.  Too bad – it was marginally useful, too.

]]> By: Coal Miki-Restall http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1186207 Coal Miki-Restall Fri, 12 Aug 2011 01:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1186207 Closed my Linked In account explaining how I don't appreciate being opted in automatically to features that will be sharing my private information with third parties. As for the Facebook contacts thing, I do have the Facebook app on my iPhone, I never opted in to having my contacts sync, and sure enough the contacts from my phone have NOT been uploaded to Facebook. They've had problems in the past, but I've found these past couple of years (since I decided to turn security up to 11 and all sharing to be with specified groups only, as a result of a stalker problem) that Facebook have been a lot better with regards to keeping your security settings as you set them. The OMG rant of the day is invariably overblown and inaccurate. Closed my Linked In account explaining how I don’t appreciate being opted in automatically to features that will be sharing my private information with third parties.

As for the Facebook contacts thing, I do have the Facebook app on my iPhone, I never opted in to having my contacts sync, and sure enough the contacts from my phone have NOT been uploaded to Facebook. They’ve had problems in the past, but I’ve found these past couple of years (since I decided to turn security up to 11 and all sharing to be with specified groups only, as a result of a stalker problem) that Facebook have been a lot better with regards to keeping your security settings as you set them. The OMG rant of the day is invariably overblown and inaccurate.

]]> By: Godfree http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1186180 Godfree Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1186180 Will, that's true for so many things. Who are you quoting, out of curiosity? Will, that’s true for so many things. Who are you quoting, out of curiosity?

]]> By: shadowfirebird http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1186119 shadowfirebird Thu, 11 Aug 2011 23:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1186119 Thanks!  I actually have a linkedin account in my meatspace name, so I'm vulnerable.  (And I can't cancel the account, since it seems to be getting me work, a little, maybe.) Thanks!  I actually have a linkedin account in my meatspace name, so I’m vulnerable.  (And I can’t cancel the account, since it seems to be getting me work, a little, maybe.)

]]> By: KG4ZOW http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185948 KG4ZOW Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185948 I found the "Account -> Cancel" link to be more useful. When they asked why, I replied with the URL of the original register.co.uk web page which explained this. I found the “Account -> Cancel” link to be more useful.

When they asked why, I replied with the URL of the original register.co.uk web page which explained this.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185874 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185874 <blockquote>Thank you for the reminder to review all those settings in my account. While I was there I opted out of a few other things...</blockquote>Heh. Netflix just staged a little price coup that would have bumped me from $28 to $30 per month. I took the opportunity to drop to a $16 plan. <i>Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus</i>

Thank you for the reminder to review all those settings in my account. While I was there I opted out of a few other things…

Heh. Netflix just staged a little price coup that would have bumped me from $28 to $30 per month. I took the opportunity to drop to a $16 plan.

Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

]]> By: EvilSpirit http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185773 EvilSpirit Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185773 Wait a minute, g-clef... If you *don't* have your phone "tied to your facebook account" (and I suspect the actual issue is with having a Facebook app on your phone, anyway) then how do you claim to have any way of knowing what happens when you *do*? Wait a minute, g-clef… If you *don’t* have your phone “tied to your facebook account” (and I suspect the actual issue is with having a Facebook app on your phone, anyway) then how do you claim to have any way of knowing what happens when you *do*?

]]> By: Will Grant http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185762 Will Grant Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185762 I'm the other way round. I still get benefit from LI - but Facebook was abandoned years back... I’m the other way round. I still get benefit from LI – but Facebook was abandoned years back…

]]> By: JBarnes01 http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185760 JBarnes01 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185760 LinkedIn -- The "Facebook" of business.  I've got an account on both.  Never use either.  Don't know why I keep them. I guess it's part of my "hoarder" mentality.   Thanks for the heads up though. LinkedIn — The “Facebook” of business. 

I’ve got an account on both.  Never use either.  Don’t know why I keep them. I guess it’s part of my “hoarder” mentality.   Thanks for the heads up though.

]]> By: anonymity86 http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185664 anonymity86 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185664 I don't mind. They give a great service for free! They can use any of the information I give them as much as they want. I don’t mind. They give a great service for free! They can use any of the information I give them as much as they want.

]]> By: Angryjim http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185570 Angryjim Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185570 exactly why I quit that thing. now if I could only break myself away from facebook...... exactly why I quit that thing. now if I could only break myself away from facebook……

]]> By: Aloisius http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185565 Aloisius Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185565 I must be missing something. Are they just showing my own photo within an advertisement shown to me or to others? Depending on how it's implemented, they don't need to share any information with advertisers to do that since they are the ones displaying the ad. I must be missing something. Are they just showing my own photo within an advertisement shown to me or to others?

Depending on how it’s implemented, they don’t need to share any information with advertisers to do that since they are the ones displaying the ad.

]]> By: Jonathan Badger http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185539 Jonathan Badger Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185539 Job hunting isn't really the point of the site though, although I suppose you could use it for that. It's mostly a way to keep track of work contacts the way stacks of business cards used to be  -- and a picture is certainly more informative for reminding one who these people are. Job hunting isn’t really the point of the site though, although I suppose you could use it for that. It’s mostly a way to keep track of work contacts the way stacks of business cards used to be  — and a picture is certainly more informative for reminding one who these people are.

]]> By: Will Grant http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185538 Will Grant Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185538 "If you're not paying for something, you're not the customer; you're the product being sold" “If you’re not paying for something, you’re not the customer; you’re the product being sold”

]]> By: cymk http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185523 cymk Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185523 Didn't even realise some of those options existed on my linkedin profile, thanks for the heads up Cory, tbarribeau. Didn’t even realise some of those options existed on my linkedin profile, thanks for the heads up Cory, tbarribeau.

]]> By: tween_spirit http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185520 tween_spirit Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185520 hahaha the LinkedIn homepage section "LinkedIn Today" currently depicts a Yahoo! News article titled "LinkedIn opts 100 million users into sharing private information within advertisements" Is this what happens when you only use automated content aggregators for your news section? hahaha the LinkedIn homepage section “LinkedIn Today” currently depicts a Yahoo! News article titled “LinkedIn opts 100 million users into sharing private information within advertisements”

Is this what happens when you only use automated content aggregators for your news section?

]]> By: technogeekagain http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185500 technogeekagain Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185500 I never saw a reason to give them my picture in the first place. Seems to me that if you're job-hunting, a picture is more likely to trigger someone's prejudices than to be helpful. I never saw a reason to give them my picture in the first place. Seems to me that if you’re job-hunting, a picture is more likely to trigger someone’s prejudices than to be helpful.

]]> By: Angryjim http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185498 Angryjim Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185498 I quit linkedin when I heard they were selling stocks. When trying to please stockholders, it seems these people lose focus on their original clients. I knew they'd have to start making more and more money, and thus this sort of thing.  plus linkedin never gave me work. It was like quitting friendster, it was so over for me already. I quit linkedin when I heard they were selling stocks. When trying to please stockholders, it seems these people lose focus on their original clients. I knew they’d have to start making more and more money, and thus this sort of thing. 

plus linkedin never gave me work. It was like quitting friendster, it was so over for me already.

]]> By: SamSam http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185486 SamSam Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185486 I too left them feedback, and told them it was a "stinking, underhanded thing to do." Maybe if hundreds of others leave them feedback they'll feel bad... yeah, right. I too left them feedback, and told them it was a “stinking, underhanded thing to do.”

Maybe if hundreds of others leave them feedback they’ll feel bad… yeah, right.

]]> By: adwkiwi http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185465 adwkiwi Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185465 There's a feedback link on the right hand column; I sent them a note telling them default opt-in like this is amateur hour antics and they should stop. There’s a feedback link on the right hand column; I sent them a note telling them default opt-in like this is amateur hour antics and they should stop.

]]> By: SamSam http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185463 SamSam Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185463 How is this not illegal? How is this not illegal?

]]> By: Ellie Guapo http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185460 Ellie Guapo Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185460 An even better way out of all these stupid dilemmas (other than simply not using the service) is to have a profile full of misinformation. The more bogus info is out there floating around, the more useless all their data-retrieving and tabulation will be. Fill up all your personalized spaces with complete bullshit and let them go to town convinced that 53% of females under 30 in Wales think "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" is their favorite film. An even better way out of all these stupid dilemmas (other than simply not using the service) is to have a profile full of misinformation. The more bogus info is out there floating around, the more useless all their data-retrieving and tabulation will be. Fill up all your personalized spaces with complete bullshit and let them go to town convinced that 53% of females under 30 in Wales think “Treasure of the Sierra Madre” is their favorite film.

]]> By: sstwalley http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185459 sstwalley Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185459 The best way to opt out is with the delete account button that I used last year. People still use LinkedIn? The best way to opt out is with the delete account button that I used last year. People still use LinkedIn?

]]> By: Gehenus http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185439 Gehenus Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185439 Thanks Cory. Done and Done. Thanks Cory. Done and Done.

]]> By: g-clef http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185432 g-clef Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185432 @boingboing-58dcb9014f04cec05cb181e8ed6e6c2d:disqus Actually, it's not your phone numbers it's displaying...it's theirs. I don't have my phone tied to my facebook account and it's showing me those numbers also (and it's showing me phone numbers of people I don't have on my phone). So, if you have given facebook your phone number, it's showing that number to everyone on your friends list...whether you want them to have it or not. @boingboing-58dcb9014f04cec05cb181e8ed6e6c2d:disqus

Actually, it’s not your phone numbers it’s displaying…it’s theirs. I don’t have my phone tied to my facebook account and it’s showing me those numbers also (and it’s showing me phone numbers of people I don’t have on my phone).

So, if you have given facebook your phone number, it’s showing that number to everyone on your friends list…whether you want them to have it or not.

]]> By: tbarribeau http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/linkedin-opts-you-into-being-used-in-advertisements-heres-how-to-opt-out.html#comment-1185425 tbarribeau Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=112927#comment-1185425 Also worth hitting: Settings > Account > Turn on/off enhanced advertising Settings > Email Preferences > Turn on/off partner InMail Settings > Groups, Companies & Applications > Turn on/off data sharing with 3rd party applications Settings > Email Preferences > Turn on/off invitations to participate in research Settings > Email Preferences > Turn on/off LinkedIn announcements Also worth hitting:
Settings > Account > Turn on/off enhanced advertising
Settings > Email Preferences > Turn on/off partner InMail
Settings > Groups, Companies & Applications > Turn on/off data sharing with 3rd party applications
Settings > Email Preferences > Turn on/off invitations to participate in research
Settings > Email Preferences > Turn on/off LinkedIn announcements

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