Category Archives: Facebook

Are You Sharing Too Much?

My parents probably warned me about sharing too much, back in the day when the digital tools and gadgets were still seen by many through movies that feature space travel, James Bond or other spy movies.I know because I don’t always give my home address to anyone wanting to write me a letter.

These days, it is my turn to warn my children about protecting their privacy especially what they share online. What I tell them:

  • don’t give the name of your school
  • don’t give the name of your parents
  • don’t give out our telephone number
  • don’t give your email address
  • don’t give our home address nor post photos with a home sign

I also tweaked the privacy settings in their FB accounts so that no one can write on their walls, see photos they were tagged with and hid all other pertinent information. There are FB contacts who can’t see photos and status updates they are not supposed to see. I did this with my FB account too.

So, I think we’re safe. Apparently we are NOT SAFE.

According to this article, The Dangers of Sharing, author Lori Andrews said “Your right to control is currently being diluted by the sheer number of things you have to do to exercise it,”

Do we put out our email addresses in the open to be able to qualify to win a bottle of lotion being raffled off in a Facebook product page?

Do we open up our Facebook private walls to make a status update for “EVERYONE” just so we can win a shirt?

Nick Bilton, a New York Times San Francisco-based columnist and blogger wrote:

“As users of these sites and apps, we have no idea the type of information we are trading for ‘free’ access.”

“It’s one thing for a service to tell me that it plans to read my e-mails, sift through my address book, or look in my underwear drawer — then it is my responsibility to decide if I want to use the service — but it’s entirely different for these company’s to do so at will.

“Sure, I want LinkedIn, Facebook and other services to offer a better experience, but I want to know what they are doing with my personal information, this way, I can choose to enter with caution, knowing the potential consequences, or try to find an alternative service that is more transparent.”

How often have you read what a free app takes away from you as you download this on your phone? If an app says it will remove or delete data in my SD card, read my sms and email, then I won’t have it in my phone, even if I really like the app.

Do Your Earn Anything in Facebook?

What have you earned when you clocked in 40 hours/month (give and take) when logged in Facebook? If you are logged in because you are a social media handler of a product or a company handling Facebook pages, then you are earning your keep. This will enable you to issue ach checks when needed.

But if you are just FB-ing to read updates, look at photos, watch videos and chat with your friends, you definitely are not earning a penny from it. As a blogger, I must say that I earn traffic when I share my posts/links in my FB page. Earning in this context means monetary benefits.

What is my gist? We spend a lot of time in FB which takes away time to be more productive, to do other tasks that need active physical participation. Logging out means we get to bond more with our loved ones rather than just saying we love spending time with them. Logging out means we get to spend quiet time with ourselves.

And by the way, we made some FB people millionaires.

Facebook New Timeline

Last week, FB friends were all raving (and maybe some were ranting) about the mandatory thing of having Facebook Timeline.

I didn’t complain because I had my Facebook Timeline back in September.

Here is an interesting article to know more about what you need to know about the Facebook timeline.I just wish people would take time to know about the privacy setting so their photos are not seen by people who don’t know them.

And yes,  we were born in the year ____ and Facebook happened. Isn’t that fun? 😛

Facebook Privacy Issues

You think everything you put in Facebook, no matter how you keep it private, remains private? Think again.

There is currently a movement called EUROPE V FACEBOOK and if you read the issues there (never mind if some were written in German, have someone else translate it to you like I did), you will learn a lot.

Here is another link about Facebook’s Privacy Issues.

What you will learn will make you re-think about the thing you personally share.

On the other hand, at least in Facebook, you found long-lost relatives, friends and people you used to be friends with and that’s a good thing. In fact, you think it is the best thing to happen ever since you learned to surf the web.

Ok then, just be careful about the thing you post and please, keep some of those information PRIVATE.

 

Another Post About Facebook

I wrote a lot about Facebook here. Some are just fun posts but some are serious posts about privacy or the lack of it.

Yes, like Twitter (add me up! LOL) Facebook gives users the ability to post updates as often as they want. Some are TMI (too much information) while some updates are downright annoying. Yeah, who needs to know you need to pee or just ate a cow dung?

For others, like me, Facebook is a perfect place to share new articles written, links that can help others and photos/videos that can tug the heart strings.

For me, it is a a venue to share with my relatives the photos and accomplishments of my children. It is also a place where we have “meetings” and where everyone pitches an idea that will help each other.

For some of our family and friends, they get to share with us clips and photos of their personal achievements, whether they won in a sports wearing their equestrian helmets, or accomplished a marathon, or even bagged that medal for an art contest. I’m sure first time to walk videos are one of the most commented videos with family groups.

For long-lost school friends, non-stop chatter on old school photos are a source of laughter and nostalgia.

I am sure there are many more worthwhile experiences we have experienced by joining Facebook. Let me just be clear with one thing though, please value your privacy while in Facebook.