In Jcow you can not make private profiles with the privacy problem that implies, my network what users use most is the role of followers the problem is that by following a user all their publications are visible from their profile.
My proposal to solve the privacy problem is as follows:
Make the FOLLOW function work as the ADD FRIEND function explained to me:
When you NEED a user, you also have to FOLLOW and accept the FOLLOW UP request to see your publications.
As in the function of