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Shocker: Facebook Users Hate Surprise Photo Tagging

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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Facebook photo junkies, take note: Failing to consider the wishes of others before posting their picture on the social network might just get you in trouble.

A new survey from computer security firm Sophos found that nearly all Facebook users think it's rude when someone posts a photo or video of them without asking their permission first. In the survey of more than 800 Facebook users, 83 percent of respondents said it's just "common courtesy" to ask permission before posting someone else's photo or video online. Another 8 percent said it should actually be be illegal to post someone else's mug without asking first.

Seven percent said they don't think people need to ask permission, and if someone is so concerned about having an embarrassing photo of them posted online, they should just "stay at home" and avoid having their photo taken altogether. Two percent of respondents did not have an opinion on the matter.

Some of those who commented on the poll said users could avoid the issue by stipulating to those taking their picture that that they want the image to be kept offline.

Others believed that Facebook's existing photo controls allowed users to remove an unflattering photo they didn't post themselves. This is not the case, however, Sophos pointed out in its blog post. In actuality, rejecting a photo you are tagged in stops it from appearing on your profile, but the photo will still live elsewhere on Facebook.

"In short, you can't force a photo of you to be taken down — but you can remove your name from its tags after it has been published," Sophos' blog post reads. "You can't stop friends from sharing photos of you, but you can block it (after it is published) from appearing on your own profile."

Last year, Facebook found itself in hot water over a system that made it easier for users to tag their friends in bulk. Facebook said it would examine newly uploaded photos and compare them to other photos in which you or your friends are tagged in order to make tagging suggestions via facial recognition. The feature was later turned on without warning, however, prompting concern from security experts and regulators alike.

For those concerned with more than how your hair looks, Facebook last year unveiled a "social reporting" system that allows users to notify someone they trust if they are the victim of bullying or online harrassment. If you click "Report" on a photo, for example, a pop-up window appears asking if the photo is about you. If it is, you can select "I don't like this photo" or "This photo is harrassing or bullying me."

Do you also hate being tagged in Facebook photos without permission? Or is this just the way it goes in today's digital world? Let us know in the comments.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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