This research which has been covered over a total of seven years has shown a pretty interesting trend on the social network. For instance, between 2005 and 2009, most users were very strict with their private information. However, these issues lowered consequently after the changes on the Facebook interface between 2009 and 2010.

This data proves that Facebook’s much criticised introduction of the timeline interface has done more good than bad. The social network’s users feel more at ease with their personal information now. "While people try to take control of their personal information, the network keeps changing, affecting their decisions and changing their privacy outcomes," says Alessandro Acquisti, one of the researchers from Carnegie Mellon University.

Facebook: No more privacy issues!

This study is ground-breaking because it has used data from Facebook’s early days, unlike any other research. Fred Stutzman, who co-authored the research with Acquisti says that this data has enabled them to “illustrate the challenges social network users face when trying to manage online privacy, the power of social media providers to affect their disclosure and privacy behavior, and the potential limits of notice and consent mechanisms in addressing consumers' online privacy concerns."

Facebook is a social network which has been covered in lawsuits over privacy issues. Many of its users have claimed that it makes untrue allegations saying that it will protect private information. The group has recently agreed to submit external audits to US Government operatives so as to guarantee the protection of users’ data.

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