Facebook

spudpie

Hi, I'm thinking of opening a Facebook account. I've never had one but have seen on the news etc that it has a bad reputation for privacy etc. I'd welcome any opinions and advice about Facebook. Are the settings easy to find? Is the app better/easier to use on Android than logging in to the web site from a browser? I've got reservations about having Facebook but at the same time I can see many advantages to having an account. Any help will be much appreciated.

dan958

Settings are pretty easy to use, but who knows what data they are really storing on you; https://www.facebook.com/help/325807937506242

Android app works fine.

EssexExile

Don't tell them anything you don't want them to know. Although they probably know it already!

spudpie

dan958, the system won't let me quote you as I'm new and there's a link in your reply. So, Thanks for the link it's very helpful. Big agree about data mining. You pays your money and you takes your chance.

spudpie

EssexExile said:

Don't tell them anything you don't want them to know. Although they probably know it already!

Big agree, exactly my view. We do our best to be private but is it enough? Probably not.

Neil49

EssexExile said:

Don't tell them anything you don't want them to know. Although they probably know it already!

Precisely. There is a vast amount of settings to wade through which can be used to limit what others can see, the big problem is understanding what they all do. 

Limit your posts to Friends Only to start with otherwise your posts will be seen by numerous people that you don't know or wish to know!

The list of don'ts is endless so ask other users for advice. 

RumRat

If you can do without it, then keep away. If you are thinking of using it because of the present situation, there are many other ways of staying in touch without succumbing to FB.

Farway

Neil49 said:

EssexExile said:

Limit your posts to Friends Only to start with otherwise your posts will be seen by numerous people that you don't know or wish to know!

This, limit, and I prefer on PC where you can dictate how it appears, and install F.B Purity so you can control adverts, order of posts etc.

I'm finding FB useful for these times with local help groups it's not perfect but providing you join sensible & moderated groups, or at least go in with your eyes open it should be fine

spudpie

If I limit my posts to friends will they be able to make me visible to their friends or anyone else? I have a recollection of "Friends of Friends" being an issue.

spudpie

RumRat said:

If you can do without it, then keep away. If you are thinking of using it because of the present situation, there are many other ways of staying in touch without succumbing to FB.

Thanks for your post. I agree with you completely. I've kept away from Facebook for a very long time, (I'm 67) but I'm in quite  a lot of clubs, fishing, cycling, running etc and they're very much geared up to using using their Facebook pages to arrange things. Hence the reason for me doing the unthinkable and joining in.

a

It is more than "Friends of Friends". Once you are tagged, or someone tags you, you are know to the system. A search can then be run on all the photos on FB to build up a list of friends, acquaintances from their group photos, and work out other stuff from that, and you do not even need an account for this to happen.