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Six out of ten Facebook users are considering deleting their Facebook accounts over privacy concerns, according to a recent survey.

A further 16 per cent said they had already stopped using Facebook because they felt they had inadequate control over their data, according to the survey, conducted by computer security firm Sophos.

Facebook is increasingly drawing criticism over the complexity of its privacy settings and the fact that users generally have to 'opt out' of having their data visible to third parties rather than opting in.

However, as Neville Hobson, head of social media Europe at WCG, points out, opting out has always been the name of the game on Facebook. So is it something that should now be causing uproar? 'I think it is,' he concedes. 'With these huge numbers [of users], it has evolved into a significant pool for people to connect. It's not so much what you may or may not choose to disclose about yourself, it's the lack of control over what others can do with your information.'

But is quitting Facebook altogether the answer? Certainly not says Danah Boyd, a researcher at Microsoft Research New England and avid blogger on the topic of Facebook developments. Boyd's view is that just as leaving your flat is not the answer if you dislike your landlord, closing your Facebook account will not solve anything. In a recent blog post she instead advocates more pressure on the powers that be at Facebook HQ to resolve privacy issues and create a better product for all concerned.

Despite a supposed impending mass Facebook 'suicide' on 31 May, Boyd does not believe users will leave in droves. While a handful of 'digerati' have already closed their accounts, their opinions and comments are often visible on other social media platforms and, as Boyd points out, those using a variety of social networks may not have been particularly engaged on Facebook anyway. The average Facebook user, on the other hand, has too much invested in the social networking site to leave, she says.

A further challenge for those considering account closure is the prospect of being out of the loop. Hobson explains that while he was never highly engaged on Facebook, an increasing sense of unease prompted him to consider closing his account. After much thought and discussion with others, however, he has decided to retain a basic presence on the site. 'The reason is very simple,' he says. 'Someone sent me an email with a link to something on Facebook and it was business related. The only way I could see it was by going onto Facebook.'

Hobson concludes that it could be worthwhile staying connected but in a way that leaves him much more in control. 'The reasons these things all started out were terrific,' he says. 'But the reality of the world and human behaviour means that we need to be careful. You need to be far more attentive to what is in your profile information. Read the small print before you click.'

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