As of Friday, Nov. 2, a virtual education tour with step-by-step instructions on Facebook's security settings will now greet the social network's newbies.
The move is part of a broader effort to address concerns of a European regulatory agency, more precisely the Irish Data Protection Commissioner's Office (IDPCO).
Facebook has its main headquarters in Menlo Park, but the company's International division is located in Dublin, Ireland. Consequently, the data protection office is the watchdog agency for the 818 million Facebook users outside the U.S. and Canada. Last year, the IDPCO conducted an extensive audit of how the social network complied with privacy laws in Ireland and the European Union (EU).
Following the audit, the watchdog recommended better privacy controls for personal data, as well as links to privacy policies during the member registration process.
New members will now receive specific details on topics such as default settings, shared Timeline audiences, interactions with games, apps, and Web sites, and access to data. Moreover, the social network will also offer more detailed explanations of how Facebook ads work, how to find friends to search and contact importers, or how tagging people and things works.
As part of a major privacy revamp back in Aug. 2011, Facebook has added in-line settings for individual posts, allowing users to limit the audience for each post. Now, the company has added in-line settings allowing new users to immediately select who can see basic information such as education or employment.
"At Facebook, we're committed to making sure people understand how to control what they share and with whom," Erin Egan, Facebook's Chief Privacy Officer, said in a statement. "We appreciate the guidance we've received from the Irish Data Protection Commissioner's Office and we strive to highlight the many resources and tools we offer to help people control their information on Facebook."
Facebook now has more than one billion monthly active members worldwide, and the latest changes only affect those who are just now signing up to the social network.
"We hope that new users find these enhancements helpful. We will continue to work on additional opportunities and resources to help you better understand and use Facebook," the company added in its announcement.
Meanwhile, existing members can find the same tutorials and frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the social network's Help Center.
