Facebook Privacy Loophole

[Waski_the_Squirrel]

My colleague Kashmir Hill congratulated Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg earlier today on his increasingly savvy approach to talking about privacy issues in public. It should be interesting to see him try to talk his way out of this one.

Many Facebook users (like me) have their accounts on lockdown. Unless you're a friend, you can't see anything about me.

However, I recently learned first-hand about a loophole. Mark Zuckerberg learned the same way. You can be put into groups on Facebook without your permission.

About a year ago, I was part of another forum which I dumped due to some unpleasant personalities there. Recently, a friendly member of the forum (who is one of my Facebook friends) decided to create a Facebook group and put members of the forum into the group. We don't need to give permission, suddenly we're in it. Though she had no nasty intent, suddenly everyone knows each others' real names. Now I have no problem ignoring friend requests, but I've had a number of friend requests from these forum members, including a few of the ones who are the reason I left.

Zuckerberg had it worse. The article describes how he was put into the NAMBLA group. (North American Man Boy Love Association). Suddenly that association is visible to anyone. I read another article about a college girl who was put into the "Queer Chorus" group. Admittedly she was a lesbian, but had no choice about being outed, to the point that her family has essentially disowned her.

I've kept my Facebook account in part to protect myself, but now I'm wondering again. Is it worth it?

 

[ShoeDiva]

Yes anyone can add you to a group, but it immediately notifies you. You can immediately block it and leave the group. I personally do not love groups myself, but they have there uses. :dunno
(This has been going on (groups) for at least two years, by the way.)

 

[Guard Dad]

As I've mentioned before, I'm on Facebook but not a huge fan. I think it's just far too much personal stuff shared.

 

[Genevieve]

As I've mentioned before, I'm on Facebook but not a huge fan. I think it's just far too much personal stuff shared.

I know. I don't write anything on FB that I would mind anyone and/or everyone in the world seeing.

 

[deewee]

I just quietly leave the group when that happens to me. I also do it for facebook messages that have been sent to me, and 5911 other people. )

 

[ShoeDiva]

I just quietly leave the group when that happens to me. I also do it for facebook messages that have been sent to me, and 5911 other people. )

Are those not irritating?

 

[deewee]

I just quietly leave the group when that happens to me. I also do it for facebook messages that have been sent to me, and 5911 other people. )

Are those not irritating?

Yes they are! Most of them are not really pertinent to me, and I always wonder why the sender thought I'd be interested in having my phone blow up with notifications.

 

[ShoeDiva]

I just quietly leave the group when that happens to me. I also do it for facebook messages that have been sent to me, and 5911 other people. )

Are those not irritating?

Yes they are! Most of them are not really pertinent to me, and I always wonder why the sender thought I'd be interested in having my phone blow up with notifications.

Exactly what gets me! I will have 100 notifications before I can even get pulled over to leave the message! (Because you know it has to happen while I am driving! ) )

 

[Sadie612]

my ignore feature God gave me works better than fb anyway

 

[Winchester]

I love FB and have met some great people from all over the world. It's all in how you use it and not for those naive to the ways of the wired world. But it is the future, so everyone needs to learn.

 

[LisaC]

Personally, I love it when my FB friends post for the world to see that they are leaving on long family vacations....

 

[ShoeDiva]

Personally, I love it when my FB friends post for the world to see that they are leaving on long family vacations....

:thumbsup

 

[Sadie612]

Personally, I love it when my FB friends post for the world to see that they are leaving on long family vacations....

I am insured... I like getting new things

ha

plus not many know where I live now. I have not shared my new addy with many. Most my stuff comes to my po box I use for work

 

[LisaC]

Personally, I love it when my FB friends post for the world to see that they are leaving on long family vacations....

I am insured... I like getting new things

ha

plus not many know where I live now. I have not shared my new addy with many. Most my stuff comes to my po box I use for work

Did you do that?!? Girl, shame on you!! I have a relative that does a vacation count down every time they leave town and I'm just waiting for her to get hit.

 

[ShoeDiva]

Personally, I love it when my FB friends post for the world to see that they are leaving on long family vacations....

I am insured... I like getting new things

ha

plus not many know where I live now. I have not shared my new addy with many. Most my stuff comes to my po box I use for work

Did you do that?!? Girl, shame on you!! I have a relative that does a vacation count down every time they leave town and I'm just waiting for her to get hit.

) She did, but I did not give her crap like I do others because she has moved and people do not know where she lives.
I had a friend take a picture of them leaving, in front of their house with the mailbox proudly displaying the exact address. :huh (The friend did delete it when I called her to tell her!)

 

[Sadie612]

I did do that... only because many do not know where we live. I either meet people somewhere or go to their house. I have only ever had 2 friends over here.

I dont wanna be findable, I need rest lol I love people not popping up at all hours

It is not different than posting that you are somewhere or out to eat with someone. People know you go to work so I don't see any difference lol

 

[ShoeDiva]

I did do that... only because many do not know where we live. I either meet people somewhere or go to their house. I have only ever had 2 friends over here.

I dont wanna be findable, I need rest lol I love people not popping up at all hours

It is not different than posting that you are somewhere or out to eat with someone. People know you go to work so I don't see any difference lol

If you are out to dinner or lunch, people do not really know how long you will be gone or if you posted right when you got there or as you were leaving. Same with work, people have varying schedules that you never actually know when and if someone will come home or if husband and wife work different hours. When you post that you will be at Disney with your whole family until next Sunday, well anyone that has any temptation or desire to do something now knows exactly where you will be and for the length of time. There have been a few reports of houses being robbed in this fashion.