In pursuing prime real estate on your social media profiles, you might have locked down your Facebook and Twitter likes. But in doing so, you may have closed off a window to understanding how people perceive you online.
A new study from Microsoft Research and Cornell University suggests that the simple act of clicking a button in favor of a particular product or position reveals more about your personality than you might think.
The study, which pulled data from hundreds of thousands of Facebook and Twitter users; found that revealing even a single like could be enough to determine a user’s political affiliation with high accuracy and potentially much more.
Facebook and Twitter are public spaces:
To protect your privacy, you shouldn’t reveal identifying details; such as your name or place of employment, without careful consideration. However, it is unclear whether this basic principle carries over to the more subtle forms of expression on social media sites; where you are granted a certain amount of anonymity. In the case of likes, for example, hiding them is not an easy task.
The Facebook-like button, installed by default on every site page, is designed to provide helpful shortcuts for the service’s more than 1 billion users. When you like something, your friends will see it in their news feeds; they may also know that you liked it when they browse their own feeds, giving them a nudge to check it out as well.
The benefits of hiding your likes:
That means a single click can have consequences well beyond the original endorsement. Those repercussions could be particularly significant for people who have not shared their political affiliation with their social media contacts. This group includes members of both parties and independents who choose to associate primarily with like-minded individuals.
As a result, these users may be more reluctant to reveal their political leanings by liking a particular candidate or cause. In addition to the potential social repercussions, they may also want to conceal any implicit associations that might be revealed, such as through Facebook’s ad preferences program.
Tips for hiding your Facebook and Twitter-like:
However, you should know that these programs may also expose your information in other ways. So, use caution when installing them on your computer. If you insist on hiding your clicks from public view, we recommend doing so discreetly through your browser.
You can, for instance, disable the Facebook-like button on specific websites by blocking scripts from running on those pages. The method you choose will vary depending on which web browser and operating system you use to access the Internet.
Here are some helpful resources that may help:
To block Facebook scripts, for example, On Chrome, select “No Script” from the drop-down menu next to the address bar. Then click on the icon that looks like a hand holding a piece of paper. Select “Secure Browsing Mode” and uncheck the box that says “Enable JavaScript.”
To hide your likes, you’ll need to install one or more browser extensions that specifically prevent Facebook scripts. likesgeek.com/buy-twitter-likes/
Why is it important to hide your likes on Facebook and Twitter?
The Cornell study suggests that you shouldn’t feel bad about your desire to conceal your likes. Our research shows that abstainers and very active likers look similar along with many characteristics, including their politics.”
Why should you think about what you are sharing on the internet before posting it publicly?
Third, this visibility could influence your behavior. Everyone has some political identity, even if it’s just not liking things that are clearly identified with one party or another. And people are reluctant to reveal their political identities to the public for a good reason, Cornell professor Tom Robinson told The Huffington Post.
“I don’t think it should be news to anyone that people have all sorts of reasons for being more circumspect about how they express their views on social media,” he said.
Why should I hide my likes from other people?
You may want to hide your Facebook and Twitter likes because you don’t want people to know which candidates, brands, celebrities, or other entities on social media you support.
The simplest way to hide your Facebook and Twitter likes from public view are to use browser extensions and third-party apps that specifically prevent the social networks from tracking or revealing your behavior. However, it would be best if you exercise caution when installing these programs on your computer.
Of course, it’s up to you whether you want to tell the world which things you like on Facebook or Twitter. You can always disconnect your account from third-party services that reveal this information; if you wish to maintain more privacy. But security experts say that hiding likes are a safer option.
Why do you want to conceal your likes?
You may want to hide your Facebook, and Twitter likes because you don’t want people to know which candidates.