What happens when you quit Facebook?

A friend told me that she decided to quit Facebook but came back on after a week or two.

Why so?

Reason?

Well, she's the type who is always on-the-go, she'd be out most of the day and would be busy with kids when she reached home.  By the time she's done with kids and stuff it'll be bedtime.

So, when her colleague mentioned about the bus crash that killed 37 passengers - she didn't know.

There was a major water crisis in the city - she didn't know.

Petrol price hike by 20cts per litre - she didn't know.




So, that's how 'important' Facebook has become :)  Who needs the newspapers?!

I was one of the first in the family to learn about the Boston Marathon bombimgs, cos it was all over my Facebook feed at 7am in the morning.

P/S: Well, it also depends on what and who you follow in your feed.

Facebook Privacy

Let's admit it. The rapid change in social media has changed the us, the world and everything.  Online safety and privacy remains as the main worry of many.  Especially in Facebook, many are still wary about displaying profile pictures, using real names, posting comments, etc.

Recently, the sister of the founder of Facebook became a victim of privacy invasion when a family picture she posted in her own account for her own friend's viewing was tweeted in Twitter publicly.  How did it happen?  Very simple - her brother was tagged in the pictured, so it was viewable by all her brother's friends, and one of his many friends downloaded the pic and retweeted in Twitter!

So, its understandable, why many are not comfortable about posting pictures on the net.  You'll never know where the pic will end up.  No matter how private your privacy settings are.  All you need is one idiotic friend.  Lol.


Got me thinking..shall I stop posting pictures?!

Well, I don't post a lot but I do have my travel albums, a kids album of my beautiful nieces and nephews, friends, and some random stuff - you know, beautiful wonderful moments that you can't resist to share (and show off).

I've mentioned before, there must be billions of pictures stored in Facebook at the moment, the chances of our pictures being leaked out is close to nil.  Unless, we are some top notch celebrity lar.  So, the only risk is our very OWN friends!

SOLUTION : Start reviewing your friends list :D  Remove or restrict access to those that you have the slightest doubt or don't know that well, etc.



Another worry is the Profile Picture.  There was a recent news about a lady's profile picture being used in a 'entertainment service' page.  That's quite worrying.  Of course, the solution is Not having a real profile picture, but then ..it's no fun not having one.  And, Facebook's profile picture is on Public by default.  Hmm..

After some thoughts, I had a solution.  Similarly..there are billions of profile pictures in Facebook, what are the chances of us getting picked on?  The more beautiful you are, the higher the chance that is.  So, don't put so beautiful and sexy profile pictures lor :P


In conclusion, in my opinion, let's not be over paranoid.  General rule of thumb in Facebook:

Check and recheck all your settings.
Everything should be set on Friends Only, not even Friends of Friends
(unless it's public message that you'd like to share or promote like charity, events, etc)

And of course, make sure your Friends are real Friends.

Remember that all your actions, clicks, comment, likes in Facebook or anywhere in the net is visible and can be easily traced.  A simple LIKE in a your favourite brand page or a complaint you posted about shitty service in your bank's page - these will be visible to public cos these are public pages.  So, be careful what you comment, like, etc in public pages.  Personally, I prefer sending emails or private message instead of writing on the public columns. After all, I don't need the whole world to know about my questions / issues.

Similarly, I always think twice before I hit the Like function in any Public post, news, pictures, etc. Why? Because whenever I LIKE something that is Public, it appears in my friends Facebook Ticker and may be even the main news feed.  Imagine how irritating it is when I Like 20 items in 10 minutes?!

Similarly (again), if you don't want your posts, pictures, etc to appear in some stranger's ticker or news feed, review your settings! If a picture you posted in on Public, when I Like or comment on it, it will be visible to my Freinds!  Simple..

Even games, do you know that your game activities will appear in the Facebook Ticker?  Example, I'm on Zynga games like Cityville, I don't want Zynga to report to everyone what and when  and how I play Cityville!  So..review all your games and apps privacy settings - in my case, I changed to Only Me.



And..that's only about Facebook. I have not even touch on Intagram, Twitter, Foursquare, etc etc.  I'm not going to...but I guess the same rules apply.  Think twice before postign anything.  Check your privacy settings.  Think twice before you accept any new freind requests..


Just my two cents worth...

My Aunt and Facebook

Some relatives old and young came over to visit my dad and we had dinner together.  While the older group "(my dad inclusive) have their "shouting match",  we the younger group will have random conversations  to catch up on things and people.

My cousin's wife turned over to ask me.."How big is Aiden now (my sis' baby)"

My youngest aunt, probably in her late 60s or early 70s, chipped in ..."You didn't check Facebook meh?"

Hahahah...


FYI, she doesn't read or speak much English, I doubt she understands much about how the internet works...but she's being updated by current affairs when her daughter shows her flashes of our Facebook updates via the Iphone or Ipad, mainly our photos I suppose.


Facebook is wonderful, don't you think?

Come to think of it, it's not just Facebook, it's the whole works of Facebook, Iphone, Ipad  or any smart or tablet phones..that makes it so easy for us to link and share stuff with our network...

A friend who is working in China told me that she seldom logs on to Facebook cos too busy at work and by the time she gets home she won't even want to touch the computer.  She can only access Facebook using her notebook via VPN in China.

So..ya..the same goes to my cousin and aunt..

Firstly I doubt she will even bother to switch on the desktop when she's home..and even if she does, I doubt she will take the trouble to call out to her mom to come over to the screen to look at some photos...


So..its the wonder of Facebook and the luxury and convenience of these smart gadgets ..

Facebook in Real Life

This is so true.

If we imagine what we I do in Facebook, if doing the same in real life.

LOL~

http://thedoghousediaries.com

Facebook Family

We just had a little-big family do to welcome the latest addition to the family.  Sis extended the invitation to most relatives, some we haven't met for a long time.  Despite not meeting for so long, we were not totally lost touch, thanks to Facebook.

We attended cousin A's wedding some years ago.  We were never really close, I don't think I've ever spoken to him.  His wife, however, took the initiative to befriend with us in Facebook.   Months later, he added us too.  We don't really interact though, but by being connected virtually we came to know that they had a baby boy three months ago.  They also have an elder gal not long after the wedding, again we have not met the gal but because of Facebook updates it seemed like we've met many times.  So..when the family came by, it wasn't that hard to break the ice.  

I was talking to one of my Uncle (late 60s) and asking him about his grand kids, how cute they are, how they have grown..he went.."oh..you saw in Facebook?"

Had a similar conversation with the Aunt..she said the same thing.."oh Facebook ah"

Most of my aunts and uncles are not savvy.  They have just caught up with carrying a mobile phone :P  They may not live long enough to ever understand what social networking is all about but..Facebook is definitely part of their lives now.   I was having lunch with another Aunt and she was asking me about my running and telling me that she saw a video of my youngest nephew on the 'internet'.  Her daughter has been showing her stuff on Facebook ..haha.

As with all gatherings,  especially in this era with smart phones and digital cameras, everyone will be busy taking photos ...of kids especially.  Snap snap snap ....

The same Uncle called out from his car while leaving.."Remember to post pictures in Facebook!"

Lols...

Online Privacy

Read this : http://www.taz.de/!81248/

It's amazing how much of ourselves can be revealed from something as simple as our online activities.

In short, Facebook stores our usage data.. our friends, status postings, comments, photos, locations, etc etc.  Advertisers pay good money to use these data for custom advertising. Do you notice how the page sometimes intelligently flash out ads or page suggestions that fits your interest? Like just a while ago, it has an advertising on Pilates..may be my data indicates that I like sports stuff?

It does sound scary but yet..unavoidable in the current digital world.  Everything can be conveniently stored and saved when it's digital.

At the other end of the spectrum, in the world of smartphones, privacy is becoming an increasingly outdated concept, argues technology writer Sam Biddle. What might once have been considered "creepy" and invasive is becoming normal...http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15730499

I've been working in the market research industry since the late 90s.  In MR, we collect consumers behaviour data, manually.  Manually, we screen and select respondents that fit our target profile, and ask them questions that we designed manually based on marketers' needs and objectives.  The MR code of conduct states that we can only analyse the findings at agregate level and we aren't allowed to reveal or share individual respondent responses in any manner.  After all, it is more relevant to look at overall data patterns to make out representative findings.

So..shall we be afraid of using Facebook? Shall we switch off all the smart features of our smartphones? Or better still switch back to dumb phones?

I don't know.

As the article rightly quoted..privacy is becoming an increasingly outdated concept.




Personally, I'll still use Facebook, 4sq, and whatever not..strictly for fun and social purposes.

They can track all my comments, postings and check ins  all they want, I'd be glad to be part of the statistics, just like a respondent in a traditional MR survey. I doubt anyone will take to scrutinizing an individual data to come out with a marketing plan.    It should be in terms of overall data trending.

UNLESS, I commit a major crime..or I become a huge celebrity one day, then my individual data will be very valuable and in demand !

Like

Some day last week, my sis posted in FB that she was stopped and fined by the police for talking too long on the mobile.

My cousin "Liked" the post.

My sis replied - "I was actually talking to your mother..."

I "Liked" my sis' reply.


=D


Funny how Facebook changed the usage of a simple word like LIKE.....

Are you worried?

A friend posted this recently on Facebook to warn everyone on why we shouldn't post any personal pictures (especially kids) or even our whereabouts i.e. location check ins,  on the internet or in any social networking sites.




On first thoughts, what was shown in the video does sound scary.  Made you wanna immediately stop posting photos isn't it? Well, my personal view, I think we shouldn't be too paranoid.

For a start, make sure you do the following:

• Set your ALL Facebook postings to Friends Only
• Do not add or accept anyone who you do not know personally
• Switch off Location Services for your Camera in your smartphone
• If you are really paranoid, switch off ALL location services, but then you may not be able to use some functions like the Map

Check out the comments under the video..some make quite good sense...

"Anyone ever heard of whitepages (the one in your phone book) or appraisal district web pages. You can look the address of anyone just by knowing their name (at least their last name) and the county they live in."

"When I was a kid (in the 80s), strangers knew where I was too, BECAUSE I WENT OUTSIDE."

Well, the video did make a valid point. It does pose some danger when we use location services like Foursquare, FB Check in..and it was also new information to me that the eve the photos will have location information tagged on it if the camera location service is on.

There has been many debates about the danger of using our smart phones in public the danger of checking in at public places because technically I can be tracked down.

Well, we've seen in the movies, as long as our phone is on the police or anyone with the right tools can track us down.  A tap on our touch and go card tells us our travel pattern.  A call to the internet service provider, they can tell you your location details and sites you've visited.  Facebook has all the data of who you like to 'creep' on around Facebook.  Google has information on the type of sites and information that you tend to search for.

So..what do we do? Stop using all these gadgets?

My view is..well well well...everyone in every developed corner in the world is exposed to such "risk".  There more than 800 million active facebook users in the world, there are at least 3 million foursquare ceck-in in a day, over 3 billion photos loaded in Facebook each month...

Don't believe? See HERE - it's only a random outdated article I pulled out from the internet.

So..with all those numbers, how likely do you think I'd be tracked down?  Well, not saying I'm not worried, I did check my setting after watching the video, my camera's location was off anyway - phew . Lol.

I only left the necessary ones on e.g,  Facebook, Foursquare, Runkeeper etc.

Yikes..does that mean stalkers can track me when I run?

Nah..as I told FY long time ago, I ain't any celebrity, I aint' filthy rich, nor I'm beautiful, so IF someone really stalks me up one fine day and appeared at my doorstep that person must be damn smart to be able to do so and may be crazily in love with me.


=P

Nevertheless, just play safe...I repeat:

• Set your ALL Facebook postings to Friends Only
• Do not add or accept anyone who you do not know personally
• Switch off Location Services for your Camera in your smartphone
• If you are really paranoid, switch off ALL location services, but then you may not be able to use some functions like the Map

Facebook is Not a Social Problem

Is Facebook a social problem? I "discussed" this topic - here - back in February this year.  Been eight months now, are you using Facebook less or more? Have you got bored with it?  

Just today, a friend (while tapping on her HTC) stated that she now has less to do and see on her Facebook page, hence, she only logs on a few times a week.

I still log on several times a day.  Maybe it's true that I really don't have a life??

Nah.. I still think Facebook is such a powerful social tool, IF used properly.

In fact, one who doesn't use FB may even risk being left out unintentionally.  "Out of sight out of mind" - that's what I've told some friends who asked why they were not informed or included in certain outings :D

Yesterday, for example, a friend who is into her 2nd month maternity leave decided to 'fb' about her being alone with the baby while the hubby travels. Sounds like a typical fb thing..? We see such updates every other day isn't it?

Well, it probably turned out to be the best thing she did for the day cos your's truly here (the fb junkie) saw the update and immediately whatsapp-ed to check if she's keen to join us for tea. Just a couple more messages, change of meet up point, by 4pm she was with us enjoying a well deserved me-time break.  Wonderful friends we are... but oops..we didn't remember that her birthday is just around the corner i.e Today!  Honestly, if not for the Fb wishes I saw this morning, I won't even know.   LOLOLOL.

As I'm typing away now..my fb ticker is very busy with all her tq replies to dozens of wall wishes ~
 
Separately,
On the eve of the raya break, I was meddling on an ex school mate's status post, it's my fb way of saying  "yo, how are you?"  After some trash talking, she asked when I can meet ..bla bla.. When I woke up the next morning, I 'remembered' that there is actually a small meet up with a small grouo that afternoon itself, so I extended a last minute invite to her..and she came!  And we had such a wonderful get together.  All because of Facebook. *heart*


How can Facebook be a social stigma??

Facebook and Friends

This - CLICK HERE - is quite hilarious.

I like the way he tested his 'Facebook Friends' by setting his birthday on a totally different month from his actual birth date and changed the date 3 times over two to three weeks but he still received birthday wishes on all three dates and some even from the same people :D


Excerpt:
"..The Facebook birthday greeting has become a symbol of all that is irritating about the social network."


"..  your Facebook account suddenly chatters with exclamation-point-polluted birthday wishes. If you are a typical Facebook user, these greetings come mainly from your nonfriend friends—that group of Facebook "friends" who don't intersect with your actual friends."


"..The wishes have all the true sentiment of a Christmas card from your bank. The barrage of messages isn't unpleasant, exactly, but it's all too obvious that the greetings are programmed, canned, and impersonal, prompted by a Facebook alert." 




Do you put your actual birth date in Facebook?  Or do you even put your birth date in Facebook?


I don't.


Do you wish your friends Happy Birthday in Facebook?


I don't (most of the time).  I prefer calling, sending a personal email or phone messages for close friends.  


For not so close friends (most probably those that I do not have their mobile number) I may drop them a private FB message or slit in a comment riding on someone's else wish or post depending on my mood and how much I interact with the person in recent years.


Otherwise, I won't bother posting a wish on a wall cos I don't want to add on to the clutter.  I wonder if anyone goes through each and every single post.  Especially those with hundreds or thousands of friends?


Speaking of friends, how many FB friends do you have? And how many are real friends? How many do you actually interact with?  By 'interact' I meant - at the very least "like' on something if not comment..or at the very very least share items in FB game...lol.




As of today I have 191 friends.  I add new ones on and off but I also 'clean' the list once in a while.  I just removed someone who is a personal friend to me but he doesn't contribute anything in FB.  He is just there and yet not there..so I removed him from my list :P


I did a simple 'analysis' on my FB friends not too long ago.  Out of the all my "friends"..


..only 64 have somewhat active interactions with me ..defined as those whom I remember had Liked or Commented in any of my posts in the past year or so


..16 are relatives..mostly inactive except for my own siblings.


..6 are useful for Cityville (Lol), well we do know each other from work, school etc..but not much interaction apart from exchanging game items. Haha.


The rest, a huge chunk of 101 are totally inactive!  As in..I don't remember interacting with them in the recent years.  You know..how strange and yet common it is when we add some one new..and for that few days he or she will be actively asking questions and stuff ..


Where are you now?
What do you do?
Are you married? Oh..why not?
Where do you stay?
We should catch up?


May 2 in 10 will actually meet up in person. But after that meeting,  the frequency of meeting up or interacting regularly slowly reduces from once a day to as low as once or none a year.  Is this true for you too?  Or am I being too cynical? 




Oh well, the 101 are still listed as my friends simply because they are still pretty active in FB..just so I have more things to read in my news feed and some are interesting individuals that I like to 'keep in touch' with. (read : stalk / creep) Lol.... 




Another thing is, it's still nice to learn about..A's holiday trip Tokyo or what G had dinner with the hubby at Souled Out.




That's what friends are for  :D