Facebook

[kjay]

Facebook? Twitter? Google? Yahoo, even? Store loyalty cards?

And if TE isn't data mining us, they're missing a big opportunity ... obviously they take informal notice of what we say here and use it to increase their bottom line, as they should.

Guess I don't understand how data mining is necessarily disadvantageous. Any examples of that? Thanks.

[shootingstar]

Data mining in the social media context is getting into personal details about ourselves. Unless I've misunderstood Oakleaf's point.

Already we're showered with spam junk in other electronic ways.

[emily_in_nc]

I just signed up for FB about two weeks ago after resisting for years. It finally got to the point that so many links were on FB that I couldn't get to that I gave in. A lot of these have to do with our condo in Belize -- FB is huge down there as cell phone minutes are very pricey compared to in the states, so people tend to email and FB more than call or text. So many businesses post specials and information via FB only that you almost have to be on.

I have only allowed 7 friends so far, and all those are real friends except for a semi-crazy aunt I have who I didn't really want to be watching me. Before I signed up, I researched how to set my privacy settings super high so that only friends can see anything I do, I can't be found through google or FB searches, and I even managed to block my aunt specifically from reading my status updates or seeing new photos I post. I just don't want to share everything with her!

Most of my friends who are on FB used it to reconnect with high school or college friends, but I really haven't wanted it for that at all. One of my friends is my best friend from HS, but she would be my friend with or without FB. I mostly signed up to connect with businesses, as I mentioned, and to see vacation photos from a few special friends.

So far, other than the first couple days when I was getting it set up, I've only spent 10-15 minutes per day on it, and that I can easily handle.

Now Twitter...another story!

[malkin]

I opened a FB acct to get pictures from my daughter and to check in now and then with my nieces and a few other people.

I use a name that no one at work will recognize, as these are parts of my life that need to be separate. I don't respond to friend requests.

[Veronica]

facebook knows a lot of personal information about you and there is no law that keeps them from sharing that info with anyone and their dog.

Veronica

[jobob]

No Facebook here. They have no respect for the users' privacy.

If you use it and you don't pay for it, YOU are the product being sold.

facebook knows a lot of personal information about you and there is no law that keeps them from sharing that info with anyone and their dog.

Like what, V? Apart from what I choose to post about myself, what else does facebook know about me?

Kjay has very politely asked for specifics. I am asking as well.

- Jo.

[snapdragen]

Facebook has nothing about me but my name. I did not enter my address, phone number, city, employer. I've also got the privacy settings pretty much locked down, and I check the regularly. Dear Mr Zuckerberg seems to make changes on a whim.

FB was invaluable to me when my Dad was dying. A friend up in Washington sent me messages regularly, helping me cope while I played "the strong one" for the family (she had lost her Dad a couple of years ago). Other friends posted prayers, wishes or just hello, we love you notes. It meant a lot to me.

Like anything else, FB is what you make it. If you post every intimate detail of your life, the world will know it. Same goes for posting on TE......

[Veronica]

Like what, V? Apart from what I choose to post about myself, what else does facebook know about me?

Kjay has very politely asked for specifics. I am asking as well.

- Jo.

There is a long Wikipedia article about problems with Facebook.

I know that many of you are very happy with it. That's great and if it lets you stay in contact with people and gives you information, fantastic. It's not something I wish to participate in for a whole host of reasons - (privacy issues, time sump, closed social circle...) I have other ways to stay in contact with people.

Veronica