Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
    • Reason TV
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • Free Media
    • The Reason Interview
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • Freed Up
    • The Soho Forum Debates
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Print Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Subscriber Support

Log In

Create new account

Economics

Facebook Anti-Privacy Monopoly Hysteria Now Over. Please Return to Your Regularly Scheduled Oversharing.

Katherine Mangu-Ward | 8.24.2011 4:32 PM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Remember last year (and the year before that, and the year before that) when everyone was freaking out about the "Facebook Anti-Privacy Monopoly"? There were even infographics!

As recently as this May lawmakers were touting plans to implement their own solutions to privacy problems caused by Facebook's monopoly.

Then Google+ hit the Interwebs a couple of months ago. Starting tomorrow, Facebook will debut new, easier to use privacy settings with "a googley aftertaste":

Competition works.

Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

NEXT: Broken Windows Around the World

Katherine Mangu-Ward is editor in chief of Reason.

EconomicsScience & TechnologyNanny StateInternetPrivacyCompetition
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Show Comments (101)

Latest

ICE Keeps Shooting People. Here's a Way Congress Can Rein It In.

Autumn Billings | 7.15.2026 5:04 PM

During His Confirmation Hearing, Todd Blanche Defends Trump's Blatantly Corrupt IRS 'Settlement'

Jacob Sullum | 7.15.2026 4:00 PM

The 'Nuclear Nightmare' That Was Manufactured by the Media

John Stossel | 7.15.2026 2:50 PM

D.C. Wants To Charge Robotaxis $6 Million. Unions Still Say No.

Reem Ibrahim | 7.15.2026 2:17 PM

12 States Sue, Call Paramount–Warner Bros. Merger an Antitrust Violation

Joe Lancaster | 7.15.2026 12:45 PM

Recommended

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS Add Reason to Google

© 2026 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Reason's July 4 Special!

For America's 250th, Get 2 Years of Reason for $17.76

Celebrate your independence with a subscription to Reason magazine, your most trusted source of honest, insightful news and analysis.

Subscribe to Reason