What's the Deal With Facebook's Privacy Dinosaur?

If you've posted to Facebook recently, you may have noticed a new graphic with a prehistoric twist: the privacy dinosaur.

The company is testing a pop-up reminder that encourages users to pay attention to who they're sharing with on its platform, and the privacy dinosaur - a blue laptop-wielding cartoon dinosaur - accompanies the message.

Facebook has been testing the reminder for the past few weeks, and the dinosaur has been a fun, albeit inexplicable, part of the test.

A Facebook spokesperson didn't share any details about the dinosaur or its creation, but did provide a statement about the new reminder: 'We frequently test new ways to help ensure people are sharing with who they want to on Facebook.'

Facebook users can specify the group with which they want to share their posts, and the pop-up asks them to ensure they are sharing with the intended group. There hasn't been a change to how privacy or sharing works on Facebook; the company is merely alerting users to the option. If this doesn't strike you as a typical Facebook move, you aren't alone. Slate technology writer Will Oremus suggested it may be a sign that the company truly understands the importance of user trust. Even the International Association of Privacy Professionals acknowledged the strategy via Twitter:

Are we the only ones who get pumped about seeing Facebook's privacy dinosaur in action? http://t.co/1lDTM9Qv8M

- IAPP (@PrivacyPros) March 24, 2014

So keep an eye out for Facebook's privacy dinosaur - it may just save you from oversharing.

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