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10 Tips to Protect Yourself on Facebook

Shakira Andrea Sison | Published: Jan 29, 2010 - 8:00am

So, maybe you're one of its earlier adopters or you've just recently dumped MySpace and Friendster for the tiny gray text of the Facebook News Feed. Whatever the case may be, you're now part of its 350 million active users worldwide. You're out there–and so is everything else about you. Or, at least, everything you choose to share about yourself.

While the company does make an effort to secure its users' information, privacy concerns aren't entirely unfounded. A frequent user would be able to tell you how to get the juiciest tidbits from anyone's profile, and not because of the website's lack of privacy settings, but because users readily provide this info.

Remember: Facebook's default settings make your Wall available to EVERYONE. Now a pesky admirer from high school who can't view your profile can actually see that you've just become a fan of Twix candy bars and believes in his heart that it's because he gave you one for Valentine's Day when you were 14.

SPOT.ph lists down some tips for securing your information on Facebook (click on the links while logged in for easy access):

  

1. Do some housekeeping. Ask yourself if you really, truly, have 825 friends. Think about how many people you really want to have your information and be privy to your every thought and activity. If you haven't talked since kindergarten and probably won't be reminiscing about the old days anytime soon, take them off your friends list and block them. The other person won't get an announcement that he or she has been blocked or "defriended," but simply won't be able to see you on their list. Facebook has more information on blocking friends here, or click "Settings" on the blue Facebook toolbar and go to Profile > Privacy (Manage) > Block List.

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2. Create Friend Lists. Yes, there are those who aren't really friends, but can't be taken off your friends list. You can create a list called "Not Really Friends" and have separate settings for them. For example, you can make it so that your "Not Really Friends" group doesn't have access to your photos, your birth date, your contact information or your status updates. Now your "Not Really Friends" can still view your profile and Wall, but not necessarily everything on it.

To do this, click on "Friends," then on the left-hand column, click "All Connections" to see all your friends. Click "Create New List" and name it "Not Really Friends." Now each friend's name has a drop down menu next to it that says "Add to list" and you can add them to any list you create. Make lists such as "Family," "BFFs" or "Work" and specify security settings accordingly.

  

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  • Priscilla Jan 29 2010 @ 11:30pm Report Abuse
    Excellent, spot.ph! I am looking forward to articles like this which make things simple for non-tech people. I followed all the steps and I'm looking forward to safer Facebooking! Thanks!
  • blue_rabbit Jan 29 2010 @ 02:39pm Report Abuse
    get back in your hole red rabbit.
  • red_rabbit Jan 29 2010 @ 02:28pm Report Abuse
    you can also cancel you fb account to save time.

    whatever you do to protect yourself, people will still find a way to crack your account.
  • typekosi.kanako Jan 29 2010 @ 02:06pm Report Abuse
    best article written about FB! I love you Shakira! :D
  • brooke lynn Jan 29 2010 @ 12:08pm Report Abuse
    thanks for this!
  • igeramos Jan 29 2010 @ 10:37am Report Abuse
    I meant "unfriend"
  • igeramos Jan 29 2010 @ 10:35am Report Abuse
    I "de-friended" or "unfreind" about 500 so-called friends on Facebook last December and it was the best singular thing I did as part of my pre-new year house keeping program. Very good suggestions.
  • Odette Jan 29 2010 @ 08:32am Report Abuse
    Wow, thanks Spot! Just what I was waiting for.
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