Thursday, November 20, 2008

Why are people posting old pictures on Facebook?

So what is the reason that so many people are posting old photos on Facebook now? A few weeks ago I created an account for Deb and she's been a social butterfly since. Meghan also has an account, but with the amount of trouble she and her sister have been in, she hasn't been allowed on for a couple of weeks (nor will she for a couple more!)

Besides racking up dozens of friends much faster than I did, Deb seems to be reconnecting almost immediately with the key people she went looking for. Must be a female thing. (ducking)

Anyway, I've noticed in the last few days a dozen different people I know, all from different social/work circles are uploading pictures from high school or college and tagging everyone. I've been on Facebook for more than a year and this is the first time I've seen this.

So, how do you prevent your college roommate, who you don't talk to much, but friended anyway, from posting a picture of you from that one toga party where all your business colleagues can see?

First: learn about Friend Lists. This feature allows you to group your friends into lists that you name, that can then be used in defining privacy settings. I have 5: Family, Real Friends, Work, Kids of Friends, Other. (Click on Friends in the top, then on the left side you will see 'Make a new List'. Then you can select the friends to go into that list.) When you add a friend, or approve someone adding you, you can select the list to add them to.

Then, look at the security settings on your profile. (hover the mouse on 'settings' on the top, then select 'privacy settings'. ) See that section about 'Photos Tagged of You' and 'Videos Tagged of You'? Change them to only allow 'Family' and 'Real Friends'. If you have a bunch of prick friends, like that college roommate (No, not Laryssa, the other one ;-) Then create a Friend List 'Prick Friends'.

This way only the people you want to see a tag, such as Family and Real Friends, can see a tag and no one else can. Just ask the Caitlin Davis how nice that would have been.

FYI: I'll be showing the 8th graders at Career Day this trick tomorrow. More about that tomorrow night.

7 comments:

ryssee said...

I only remember Sean and Jayne and me and Jen. I don't remember Sean's last name. He went out with a girl named Elin who lived in a penthouse at the Ritz or something though, I remember that. And the converted cop car that he brought to 130 on I-91 one day.
Great tips on the pics!

Calamity Jen said...

I've been seeing scanned old photos on Facebook for quite a while now. Often they aren't pretty. I think the best you can do is to "untag" any photos of yourself that you'd rather not have anyone discover.

overtly trite said...

so I shouldn't post pics from the Greece trip ;)

Chris Curtin said...

Go ahead. I haven't said what list you are in ;-)

This is way too funny: the confirmation word for the comment is 'proms'. I have quite a few pictures from that era ...

overtly trite said...

awww I am hurt! don't worry it would involve digging in the garage and trying to find the photos...
I do agree with you people should really think twice before posting stupid stuff especially of other folks

ryssee said...

You are 21 minutes away from missing a post during November

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