Give me Facebook advice

In My Humble Opinion
1

Ok, fine. Fine. I’ll get a Facebook account. I have a few actual friends that say that they never check their email anymore and facebook is the best way to get a hold of them.

There are a few organizations/businesses/entertainments that I actually want their updates.

Is there a way to do it so only the people I request can see me, their friends can’t see I’m there and even “friends” (say, my mom) can’t find me even if they search for me?

Tell me how to do Facebook for Introverts. The Dopers will know the way.

2

Here’s what I did; I created an account and never use it. Apart from that, yes there are security settings in there somewhere.

3

Make a throw-away email address to use when you sign up. That way, nobody will be able to find you by searching for your real email address.

When you sign up, go into your security settings and make sure everything is set to “Friends Only.”

4

carlotta, I have two Facebook accounts; one for work, one for people I actually want to keep track of (like my two best friends, who live in Paris and Beijing, respectively).

The work account has my real name and employer. I use it for various professional reasons as requested by the VP I work for. It’s open to everyone, but none of my family and friends are FB friends on that account. The profile pic is my real face.

The personal account uses the nickname which everyone who met me after 1985 addresses me as. Only FB friends can see what I post there, and pretty much all the people who are friends are that account are people who have my phone number. Periodically I check the privacy settings to make sure FB hasn’t changed things in a way I don’t want. All the personal info – school, work, et cetera – is a joke. The profile pic is sometimes my real face but more often an amusing picture. I have my Tag settings arranged so that I get notified whenever I am tagged and have to approve it to go on my Wall. Nobody can check me into places (whatever the hell that means).

I could probably do without the photo paranoia, as there are very few photos floating around of me anyway.

5

Yes. And it’s actually very simple. Go to the drop-down triangle on the extreme right hand side of the header bar. Choose Privacy Settings

Set “Default Privacy” to “Friends” this means only people you have accepted as friends can see what you post when (if) you use features where normal privacy controls aren’t available (such as when using mobile devices).

Under “How You Connect” set all settings to “only friends.”

Done!

Remember, Facebook never makes someone your friend automatically. You do not have to accept a friend request from anyone, not even your mom. (exact conversation: “Sorry mom, I won’t ever accept a Facebook invite from you or any family. FB is how I talk to my friends.”)

6

Are there really organizations that will only give you updates thru facebook?

Is e-mail really sooooo last decade?

7

No. Most of them use Twitter, too.

And yes, email IS ancient history, if you ask any teenager.

8

good advice, thanks everybody!