Update: Another Change to Facebook Privacy Settings

As reported this week by CNET's Lance Whitney, Facebook has again changed its privacy settings and reversed its decision to enable Facebook applications to suddenly access user addresses and cell numbers.

In an article entitled 'Facebook backtracks on apps grabbing address, cell number', CNET details how Facebook changed its mind, perhaps temporarily, on allowing application access to previously private data as it had received useful "feedback" from users who were concerned that too many people would accept applications without fully realizing they would be sharing their address and mobile number. Facebook is said to be working on revising how it will communicate to users exactly how applications will be accessing information, and if mobile number and address will in fact be divulged, giving users a more transparent way to opt-out of such sharing options.

We support CNET blogger and SafetyWeb advisory council member Larry Magid's call-to-action for everyone (parents, teens and anyone else valuing their privacy online) to immediately remove any mention of your address and mobile number from your Facebook profile entirely. As we've said before to both parents and teens, don't post anything online that you would later regret if it suddenly became public overnight - whether by accident or due to sudden changes in privacy settings by the services and social networks you use. Protect your child's privacy and your family's privacy and be smart with SafetyWeb.

We'll notify you instantly via our automated parental privacy alerts if your child's privacy settings change from private to public, and keep you posted via our SafetyWeb blog of the latest social networking news for families, parents and teens!