Even though I've got my Facebook privacy settings buttoned down tight, I still manage to get friend requests from people I do not know. I'm sorry to say I don't always remember people's faces, but I usually remember the names of people even from my distant past. It can get more complicated with women due to name changes upon marrying. Sometimes I find myself peering at the tiny thumbprint profile picture searching for a glimmer of familiarity, and those that substitute the kids or pets for their own photo don't help me out at all. When all else fails, I look for hints by checking how many mutual friends we have. After that, if I still cannot connect this person to a time and place in my life, I disregard the invitation.
I have a couple of hundred people listed on my Facebook page as my 'friends'. They come from all parts of my life. Some are family, some are old classmates (sorry to keep calling you guys old!), and most are people I've met while working. Sprinkled in are a few kids of friends and friends of my kids. Some I know well, others more casually, yet I've met face-to-face each and everyone of them. I'm not so confident that, at least a few of my friends, can say the same.
Three people I know have over 1,000 Facebook friends, raising a few immediate questions like: 1. Why? 2. Where did they come from? 3. Who are they? Collecting a large number of friends on Facebook does not make one popular. If anything, it shows a lack of disregard for online security and that of the friends they actually know. While some people may find great adventure in engaging in risky online behavior, I for one, do not.
At this time, Facebook's privacy settings allow only two choices for who can send friend requests: everyone or friends-of-friends. Neither of these options offer an adequate shield from the thousands of phantom friends a few of my contacts have amassed. I get particularly concerned when any of these phantom individuals extend a friend request to me. I have no idea what their agenda is, but I'm certain it isn't to benefit me.
I advise everyone to familiarize themselves with the Facebook Privacy settings options. Restricting who can access your personal information is the first place to start. Whenever possible, disallow friend-of-friend exposure.
As for the people you really do know - connect and reconnect, interact and share...that's what makes a great friendship!
Additional reading:
Over-Disclosed is Over-Exposed
Invasion of the Apps
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Jean, I don't have a Facebook account, but I'll pass these important tips on to those members of my family who do.
ReplyDeleteThanks NP! I hope my dire warnings don't scare you and others away from Facebook. It can be fun and informative - people just need to stay smart.
ReplyDeleteOh boy...how right you are! How can ANYone have 1500 friends and actually know whow all of them are? One of my daughter's friends told me last fall he thought someone was "stalking him" on Facebook and that this person happened to know all kinds of personal information about him.
ReplyDeleteI was not his FB friend but out of curiousity, I looked him up. His page was WIDE open and he had nearly 2000 "friends." I could also see he played games and downloaded apps which means at some point, he probably entered his username and password - something I NEVER want to do because I'm afraid someone is collecting this stuff for their own kicks.
Know who your friends are and do as Jean does: button up your page tight!
Exactly Diane... friending people you don't know could be as unsafe as giving personal info out over the phone. You can never be certain who you're talking to, same as you can never know who these 'friends' are.
ReplyDeleteExactly Diane... friending people you don't know could be as unsafe as giving personal info out over the phone. You can never be certain who you're talking to, same as you can never know who these 'friends' are.
ReplyDeleteExactly Diane... friending people you don't know could be as unsafe as giving personal info out over the phone. You can never be certain who you're talking to, same as you can never know who these 'friends' are.
ReplyDelete