Facebook: Privacy Issues You May Not Think About

Privacy issues have resurfaced with Facebook over the past few weeks, and Linda covers it all this week – including issues that have taken a back seat to the main Facebook privacy settings.

Other Facebook Privacy Issues and Tips

You might think about your friends' privacy issues while you fix those privacy settings and as you use Facebook. If you're fond of pulling apps into your wall as well as games, take some time to learn about those apps and games first. Ask around about them, as some of your friends may be subject to your behaviours if they have not adjusted their privacy settings. Be nice. Ask your friends if they've checked those privacy settings lately before you download any more apps into your Facebook wall.

If you don't care for apps and games, you can eliminate them from your Facebook page – at least eliminate the posts that show up on your profile page and your updates page. This is how you can accomplish that goal...

Go to your Facebook "Home" page to view all the recent or "Top News" posts from your 'friends' or 'fans.' when you run across one that is using a game or some other app, just wave your mouse over the right-hand side of that post to find the "Hide" button:

I had a difficult time finding a Facebook user who is using apps or games, as I've eliminated most of them from my "Home" pages. Instead, I'll show you where the Hide button is located (above) and what happens when you click on that button (below):

When you click on that "Hide" button, the post disappears and is replaced by something like what is shown above. But, when that post contains a game or an app, that game or app will show up between the user name and the "Cancel" button. You can then click on that game or app to make those posts disappear from your "Home" page...forever. And, that would apply to anyone on your Home page who uses that specific app or game.

Additionally, if you want to stop listening to someone's posts, you also can eliminate their posts through this method. I have yet to find a way to restore those posts, so think hard about clicking on that button before you take action.

Public Posts Through Other Pages

Another privacy issue concerns your responses to other people and to other businesses on Facebook. Do you know if they've made their page private? Or, is it public? If it is public, then everything you say on their pages or posts can be seen by the whole wide world.

Take, for instance, these two examples. The first is a Facebook page for Alabama Gulf Coast, or the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Chamber of Commerce. Their Facebook page is private – to a degree. If you are not signed into Facebook or are not a member of Facebook, this is what you currently see:

As you can see above, you need to be signed in to view this page or to "Like" it and follow their posts. On the other hand, take a look at this page:

The Boycott BP Facebook page is wide open, and anyone who posts on this page or who comments to a post is visible to the entire world. You still need to sign in or sign up to comment or "Like" this page, but once you do – and once you commit to saying something via this page, you are game to be found.

While some folks want this publicity, others may not realize it is happening. So, be aware. Sometimes the only way to find out if a business or person has made a page public is to sign out of Facebook and search for that page. You might want to do this for two reasons:

1.You want to post if the page is public if you want to show off your expertise to the world.

2.You want to stay anonymous and let the 'friend' or business know that you support them, but cannot comment if their page is public.