In the past week, I've seen two different posts about the "horrors" of Facebook and how you need to be aware of what your posting, and just how ridiculous Facebook is about moderating itself.
Which I fully agree with, 100%. Facebook is a scary place.
Recently, there was a kerfluffle with the Messenger app - unless you turned the setting off, it would send your location with every message you sent using that app. While more than likely, you will be just messaging your friends, that's still a scary thought...yes, your phone knows where you are always, but it's now sending that information to other people? No thank you!
A few days later, after that was all over the internet, Facebook turned around and said now it's "off" by default, and it is something you must turn on. Which, honestly, why would you, other than telling someone where to meet you for coffee or something...in which case, just give them the cafe name and they can look it up themselves!
I am not a Facebook fan. I use it for family that is not in the state. I don't use it to keep up with friends, I don't use it to keep up with people I see all the time. I use it to have an easy way to keep up with people I don't see.
But once you're "on" Facebook, everyone who is your "friend" wants to be your friend. Which I understand but do not agree with (because of the bit about how we don't talk about anything, we don't interact, and we don't share anything, so what's the point again?).
I try and keep everything as private as I can on my account. The photos that someone who is not my friend can see are the photos that have been profile photos or cover photos (and there isn't really a way around that). You will learn that I like LEGO and Star Wars and I have acne - good for you.
You will not find my phone number, my address, my email, or any of that. You will see I run this blog, and that's about it. Not what I watch on TV, not what I read, not where I've been.
That is information for me and people I actually know!
At this point on the internet, there is not an alternative to Facebook. Google Plus, while not new, is not popular. It's a bit clunky for my liking, and I have yet to find a way to see things in chronological order using the app (which is important to me) so I have not fully adopted it yet.
But in all honesty, I trust Google more with my information than Facebook - at least Google is only keeping track of me to show me ads on YouTube, not trying to get me to be friends with "friends of friends" - which, to me means, who has been "suggested" to be my friend because I am friends with one of their friends?
...that got complicated.
But that's the point.
Facebook is complicated.
I highly suggest everyone go and look at their page as "public", to see just what information you are sharing with the world.
The easiest way is to go to Facebook (in your browser, not the app) and click the little lock icon in the top right. It will have a drop down for privacy shortcuts. Under "Who can see my stuff?" it will say "What do other people see on my timeline?" and will have a link to "View as" (for which the default is public).
Take a gander. Click about. Look through your photo albums, your likes or your places or whatever.
Is that to your liking? If not, what do you need to change?
AND CHANGE IT NOW.
Until we move away from Facebook, the best thing to do is make sure that YOUR STUFF stays yours and isn't broadcasted to the world (unless you're into that sort of thing - but please don't be!).
I'm not a crazy tin-foil-hat-wearer, and I don't mind having my real name on my Google account or Facebook account. But I do mind how much of my information Facebook will freely share with the world. And considering how many people are on it, it's a much larger problem than Google knowing my name - let's be real.
Facebook can be an awesome tool to keep up with friends and loved ones who live states, countries, or continents away. But it shouldn't be a way that any Tom, Dick, or Harry, can find out where you ate dinner last night.
/end rant.
~Havok
P.S. And yes, I realize the "irony" of posting this and having it posted on Facebook. That's kind of my point - you don't "have" to have a Facebook account, but there's a weird look given your way if you say you don't have one. That needs to not be a thing.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Leave a comment here!