Is Facebook Marketplace Safe? New Study Analyzes the Platform's Trust, Privacy, and Safety

Facebook Marketplace, boasting over one billion monthly users, is the largest online resale platform today. But is it really safe?

A new comprehensive study conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) delved into the multifaceted landscape of trust, privacy, and safety within this expansive platform.

Is Facebook Marketplace?

The study, led by Dr. Konstantin Beznosov, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at UBC, sought to unravel the intricate web of factors shaping the experiences of Facebook Marketplace users across the United States and Canada.

In interviews with 42 buyers and sellers, participants revealed concerns regarding physical safety, financial security, and overall well-being.

A prevailing theme among users was the inherent risks associated with trading goods with strangers, particularly given the nature of in-person exchanges facilitated by the platform.

Participants expressed reservations about rating sellers, often citing fears about physical safety and maintaining anonymity while leaving feedback.

Moreover, the study shed light on users' discomfort with the fusion of Facebook's social networking platform with Marketplace activities, sparking privacy concerns as personal details intertwined with trading activities.

Facebook Marketplace's Appeal

Despite these reservations, participants highlighted the platform's appeal in its simplicity of use, expansive audience reach, and effectiveness in facilitating sales. Dr. Beznosov underscored that many users continued to leverage Facebook Marketplace despite persistent trust concerns.

Following the study's findings, researchers proposed approaches to enhance user safety and privacy on the platform. These suggestions involved raising user awareness about the consequences of sharing personal information and introducing features that carefully manage privacy and trust, such as profile verification tools.

Dr. Beznosov stressed the significance of Facebook implementing transparent communication channels for user feedback. He advocated continuous efforts to foster a safer and more trustworthy trading atmosphere within Facebook Marketplace.

The study's findings contribute to a broader understanding of decision-making processes within social networking-based marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace. By uncovering challenges related to trust, privacy, and safety, the research aims to inform future design enhancements for such platforms.

"At the end of the day, every market-even online platforms-carries an element of 'buyer beware.' But it's always possible to create a safer, more trustworthy trading environment on Facebook Marketplace," Beznosov said in a press release statement.

"We should be helping users to make more informed choices about the tradeoffs between benefits and risks in any online marketplace, particularly those in which goods are exchanged in person."

The study's findings were presented in the Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.