Facebook Has No Privacy Settings To Hide Phone Numbers

Facebook is back in news once again for an issue that sounds pretty basic for the social media giant to resolve. Jeremy Burge Emojipedia executive busted Facebook not allowing to hide phone number caught fire in the eyes of people who are concerned with their privacy. Burge tweeted about an issue he faced after adding a mobile number for 2 step verification. This extra layer of security is to secure account from unwanted access has a flaw. After adding the number Burge was unable to hide it, and it can be searched.

For years Facebook claimed the adding a phone number for 2FA was only for security. Now it can be searched and there's no way to disable that. pic.twitter.com/zpYhuwADMS

— Jeremy Burge ?? (@jeremyburge) March 1, 2019

Similar to hiding a birthday where a user can set the visibility as Only Me, the phone number section does not allow. Facebook by default wants your number visible which is basic but significant privacy bug. There should be a way for an end user to have full control over his/her data the way they want to get displayed on a social profile.

2-Factor authentication demands to put a mobile number, once provided your profile is locked behind the number, whenever you log in you have to provide an access code to enter. The security layer is sounded highly secure and for an end user, it eliminates the tension of getting their account hacked.

But with the feature it is also limited by not able to secure personal data, Facebook is already in troubled waters for fake news and recently it is labeled as Digital Gangster by British MP’s.