# Taking Steps Against Facebook Probe **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 26, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-steps-against-facebook-probe/616801 "2012-03-26T00:29:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-steps-against-facebook-probe/616801/1 "2012-03-26T00:29:52Z")
Given that some firms are now requiring that prospective employees hand over their Facebook passwords, what steps should job seekers take to minimize the damage? [ul] [li] set the account to private[/li][li] change the indentifying info on the account[/li][li] delete any incriminating info[/li][li] start a second dummy account[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-steps-against-facebook-probe/616801/2 "2012-03-26T00:44:22Z")
get off of facebook entirely, because you can’t stop what your friends do, and they may give their accounts over to UltraMegaCorp, who can then see all your information, if you have a close/open friendship on facebook with that person. ---
**Author:** ![Bemused](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/46a35a/32.png) [@Bemused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bemused)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-steps-against-facebook-probe/616801/3 "2012-03-26T00:51:54Z")
Don’t put information on the site that you don’t want to be widely known. Period; that’s the only rule you have to obey. And if a potential employer demands your account information, take that as a sign that you really, really don’t want to work for this chickenshit outfit and Just Say No. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-steps-against-facebook-probe/616801/4 "2012-03-26T01:03:05Z")
> [@Bemused](#): > > Don’t put information on the site that you don’t want to be widely known. Period; that’s the only rule you have to obey. This. I’ve put nothing on Facebook that would embarrass me if printed on the front page of the New York Times. One of my sons, on the other hand, while he was looking for work posted a few things that he probably shouldn’t have, about getting drunk at parties. But perhaps Australian employers tolerate that sort of behaviour from young men in their 20s – if they even looked at his FB page. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-steps-against-facebook-probe/616801/5 "2012-03-26T03:32:12Z")
1. @Drewtwo99: I believe you can set tagging rules, where if people tag you, you get to approve it first. This way your friends can still interact with your wall, but you have some say in it. (This is just off the top of my head. This might actually be a G+ feature). Although It would still be possible for them to go through your friends photos to find you (untagged). But it would make it exponentially harder. 2. Transfer your real facebook to “Your name” + Fake last name or pseudonym. 1. Create a new account with your real name again and post a picture and nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-steps-against-facebook-probe/616801/6 "2012-03-26T03:34:22Z")
Just as a note: Putting it to “Private” won’t help. The reason companies are asking people to log into their accounts in the first place is because they are finding that they ARE private, and want to know more. ---
**Author:** ![Sally\_Mander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Sally\_Mander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sally_Mander)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-steps-against-facebook-probe/616801/7 "2012-03-26T04:40:15Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > Just as a note: Putting it to “Private” won’t help. The reason companies are asking people to log into their accounts in the first place is because they are finding that they ARE private, and want to know more. Which is the reason some people do what \*\*Harmonix \*\*suggested: > [@Harmonix](#): > > 1. Transfer your real facebook to “Your name” + Fake last name or pseudonym. > > 2. Create a new account with your real name again and post a picture and nothing else. If I thought I were going to be required to hand over my Facebook password, at the threat of my job, I’d have a second FB account set up, with my picture, and then post nothing but pictures of my cats, and the occasional touchy-feely daily affirmation shit. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-steps-against-facebook-probe/616801/8 "2012-03-26T04:54:27Z")
I would happily “friend” a potential employer, so they can peruse my FB stuff to their heart’s content, nothing’s private to friends on my page. My username and password, on the other hand, no one gets. Period. No one has the right to access my settings, someone with my sign-in would be able to change photo albums, _delete everything, and post as me_. Hell, hell, no, and if it affects my status at my job, you can bet I’ll retain an attorney. I’m having a really hard time that this is even a thing. No one gets passwords - EVER. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-steps-against-facebook-probe/616801/9 "2012-03-26T06:55:54Z")
You really want the job? Lie. Say you don’t have one. Or, if they know you have one, say you forgot your password. Or better, write down 10 fake passwords and say, “It could be any one of these! I just can’t remember. I’m also not sure if I capitalized it or not.” On the other hand… if your moral compass won’t allow you to lie (even when it’s morally and ethically justified), and you \*really \*need the job, I suggest you sanitize the account pre-interview and hand the password over. But if you aren’t starving, I believe you’re morally obligated to object and let the cards fall where they may. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-steps-against-facebook-probe/616801/10 "2012-03-26T08:58:45Z")
I don’t actually have a FB page, despite being in a demographic where FB use is ultracommon. How would I convince them I didn’t have one.