Granular Privacy Settings for Social Network Content
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional social networking services lack the ability for users to control the accessibility of their posted content on a granular level, leading to reluctance in uploading content due to the inability to target specific audiences or exclude certain connections from viewing.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a privacy setting mechanism that allows users to select the level of accessibility for each content item, enabling them to specify which connections can view the content, with options ranging from specific individuals to the entire internet, and allowing for editing of privacy settings after posting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If content is made available to all connections via communication channels, then content accessibility and discovery are improved, but user control over who views the content deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audience for content by introducing privacy settings that allow users to divide their connections into different groups (e.g., friends, acquaintances, colleagues) and selectively share content with specific segments rather than the entire network. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining broad accessibility while enabling granular control over which segments receive the content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic privacy settings that can be adjusted for each content item, allowing users to change accessibility parameters from static to dynamic. Users can select different privacy levels (public, private, selective) for each post, enabling the system to adapt content delivery based on the specific content and desired audience rather than using a fixed accessibility model.
2Productivity
If users post content to reach more connections, then content sharing and engagement are improved, but relevance and appropriateness of content to individual connections deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different privacy settings for different content items, where each content piece can have customized accessibility parameters tailored to the user's intentions. This enables high content sharing productivity while ensuring each piece of content reaches the appropriate audience with the right level of detail and relevance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of content accessibility by introducing adjustable privacy settings that can be modified for each content item. Users can adjust parameters such as visibility scope, audience selection, and content visibility timing, transforming the content delivery system from a static all-or-nothing model to a dynamic parameter-adjustable model that balances sharing volume with relevance.
3Quantity of substance
If users are connected with more people, then network connectivity and opportunities are improved, but ability to target specific audiences for content deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large network of connections into manageable groups and categories, allowing users to navigate and target specific segments even as the overall network grows. By organizing connections into groups (friends, family, work, etc.) and enabling selective sharing with these segments, the system maintains effective audience targeting despite increasing total connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal privacy setting mechanism that works across all content types and connection groups, providing a single multi-functional tool for audience targeting. This universal mechanism can be applied to any content item and any connection group, maintaining adaptability and targeting capability regardless of the size or composition of the user's connection network.
Data Source
AI summary
A social networking service encourages users to post content to a communication channel with varying levels of accessibility to other users. Users may select how content will be published and control the accessibility of uploaded content using a privacy setting for each content item that the user posts. The privacy setting defines, or identifies, the set of connections who may view the posted content item. The posted content item is placed in a particular communication channel in the social networking service, such as a newsfeed or stream, where the content item can be viewed by those who are permitted to view it according to its associated privacy setting. Varying granularities of privacy settings provide flexibility for content accessibility on a social networking service.