- Understanding Facebook's Face Recognition Feature
- Tagging a Friend's Face
- Face Tagging: Too Much of a Good Thing?
- How to Keep from Being Tagged in a Friend's Photo
Face Tagging: Too Much of a Good Thing?
As nice as Facebook's face tagging feature is when you're uploading photos, some users don't like it quite so much. It's a matter of privacy.
First of all, you might not want to be tagged in photos uploaded by others. This is understandable because you don't have any control over the photograph. Imagine a photo of you passed out on the floor after a wild party; you probably don't want this circulating to co-workers and family.
Now, if you took the photo, you can simply not upload it. But if a friend took and uploaded the photo, and then tagged you in it, you're put in an embarrassing situation over which you have little control. Better not to be tagged by others, at least in this sort of situation.
It gets worse the easier Facebook makes it to add tags; it's especially onerous when Facebook actually does the suggesting. With automatic face recognition, you're more likely to be identified in photos you'd rather not be posted.
Then there's the issue of whether you really want Facebook (or any other site, for that matter) to know what you look like. Many users are uncomfortable with this, and the chance that Facebook might use your face without your permission.