Since 2005, Facebook has been modifying its privacy controls for its users. But each round of “improvements” created more problems, more confusion, and less privacy.
Yesterday, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg addressed these concerns in a Washington Post op-ed column.
Zuckerberg wrote, “There needs to be a simpler way to control your information. In the coming weeks, we will add privacy controls that are much simpler to use.” (The link is here but beware that the Washington Post makes it difficult to get free access). A Post reporter’s comments are here.
This is a good example to show that it’s always easier to make something more complex than it is to make it simpler. Ironically, another example is that the Washington Post makes it more complex to get free access to this free article.
Making anything more complex is always, always wrong. The only point behind technology is to make things easier, however you define “easier”.
Yet many businesses repeatedly insist on making things more complex for their customers. Consumers have to read longer agreement contracts and disclaimers, study more warranty exclusions, fill out more forms asking for more information, and click through more web pages with more check boxes and more pulldown menus.
If you run a business, you must make it simple for the customer. Make it easy for them to find you, easy to contact you, easy to get information, easy to make a purchase, and easy to fix mistakes when they happen. The path of least resistance is a two-way street.
Making something more simple can be difficult. Or to rephrase that, it takes a lot of work to make something look easy.
How often do you watch a professional dancer, athlete or artist perform, and think, “Wow, that looks so easy, I could do that” ? When you do try, you realize how wrong you were.
A professional photographer requires a lot of skill and talent to make an assignment look simple. Many clients wrongly assume that if a job runs smoothly and looks easy, then the job itself must have been simple. These clients also (wrongly) assume that simple should equal inexpensive.
Paying more for a professional photographer is really about paying to make something easier for the client. Easier by getting good pictures, easier by meeting deadlines, easier by not wasting time, easier by having a reliable and reputable person do the job, easier by having less worry over the job.
