Technical clarity

Unlike linking to something with a single unique record locator (URL) when a company site links to a threaded comment [such as ObesityHelp] the Facebook system ‘spiders’ (searches) the URL content for a photo, first few words within the content, and even attached names.  This is not something that ObesityHelp initially considered to be at issue as search engines have had access to this information since our inception.  However, many members felt the inclusion of their photo (avatar), screen name, and short blurb of the content was a privacy violation.  Our intent was never to cause anyone’s privacy to be violated but our effort was to promote support for the individual threaded comments.

To alleviate the issue, ObesityHelp immediately ceased posting threads.  At present, only content (articles, blogs, and educational material) is being linked from the company Facebook page.  

Why do we feel linking is necessary at all?  Support and education are not limited to a singular social network.  ObesityHelp operates a Facebook page for the same reason that millions of other companies do; our members are there also.

Was a policy change implemented?

In short, no.   The linking of content from various locations including newsletters, Facebook, and other sites has always been something that ObesityHelp has done.  However, what made this particular posting different was the way that Facebook automatically grabbed information from the linking source (user generated content on ObesityHelp).  

Unless manually removed or changed, the linking takes place with default information included: avatar or photo, link, and minor portions of the content.  This was not something that ObesityHelp considered initially bad as the information is public via Google, Yahoo, etc.  Once it was brought to our attention that some of the links might contain information that would be considered by some as ‘private’ we immediately ceased posting in this linking method.  Please be assured that no policy change has taken place.

How will ObesityHelp handle manual linking on Facebook in the future?

In the future, should ObesityHelp plan to link to specific threads, the company has decided to remove any such identifying markers that would otherwise cause the link to be identified to any specific individual or group.  The purpose of the Facebook linking is not to single-out any one specific poster but help promote a general open discussion of the topic(s) at hand.