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AIBU?

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Original poster

Facebook knows EVERYTHING about you...

71 replies

olgaga · 24/04/2014 09:19

Not on it, never will be, AIBU to wonder why anyone is? More for info really:

m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5191237

OP posts:
Sallyingforth · 24/04/2014 10:16

Facebook knows a lot about people but that information is only accessible to others if they choose to not have strong security settings
The security settings only protect you from other users. They don't protect you from FB itself, which knows everything that you post. That is what the OP's said.
FB provides lots of 'security' tools and encourages users to use them, but it makes not a jot of difference to FB itself.

Facebook only knows what you tell it
If only that were true!
You are telling it lots that you didn't know, like your browsing habits.

For instance, every time you log into MN (and many other sites), a link goes immediately to FB. I don't even have a FB account, but it still knows right now that Sallyingforth is on MN.

usualsuspectt · 24/04/2014 10:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FreudiansSlipper · 24/04/2014 10:20

its a bit scary that all the information is shared anything that you have registered to use tells companies what they need to know about is and as for mobiles some track where we have been and what time Shock

usualsuspectt · 24/04/2014 10:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StanleyLambchop · 24/04/2014 10:24

About 4 years ago FB sent me an Email, with a list of people I 'knew' who are on FB, in an attempt to get me to contact them. OK you might say, what's wrong with that ? - except I am not and never have been a member of FB. Turns out that one of my friends, who was on FB, ticked a box allowing FB to trawl her email account for any email addresses which it could then match to other people on FB that she knew. She did not realise that it was also snooping for Email addresses like mine, for people who were not signed up to FB so that they could try and get them to join. So it basically harvested her Email account to get info on people not signed up to FB.

The people it said I 'knew' on FB included someone who had harassed me with emails about 5 years earlier, and I had deleted every email received from them since. FB had just decided as we had had previous Email contact it would encourage me to join FB so that I could get back in touch with my 'friend'.

I sent several request to FB to remove my details from their records as I had not agreed that they should have them, I did not ever receive a reply back.

So, YANBU OP, if is not just a question of they know about you if you have signed up, they appear to be collecting data on people not signed up either, and that is not acceptable IMO.

Catsmamma · 24/04/2014 10:26

the point is SallyingForth that if Facebook know it then YOU (generic you, not you personally :D ) told them, so all the hyperbole and pearl clutching is pointless.

and if folks do not sort their security settings then by default the world will know

and as for browsing habits Google/Amazon/MN all do the same....remember penguin bollards?

SagaNorensLeatherTrousers · 24/04/2014 10:27

And what sinister thing are you all predicting/worrying Facebook is planning to do with your info other than make themselves money by predicting which ads you'll most likely click on?

Sallyingforth · 24/04/2014 10:34

Catsmamma
I think you need to look up the definition of hyperbole. Also I don't own any pearls to clutch - I love diamonds though if you are offering.
I have only posted simple, accurate information which you don't seem to be disputing.
If someone knows the implications of FB or indeed MN, and are content to use them, then fine. But it would be wrong for anyone to make that decision while thinking that they are protected by 'security' settings.

Tinkerball · 24/04/2014 10:40

So???

Catsmamma · 24/04/2014 10:46

thankyou I know what it means...

it was the first part that was a direct reply to you...the rest is just comment on how the evil of fb is viewed on MN really.

I'd like a nice vulgar pair of diamond earrings :D Big as a penguin bollard.

Callani · 24/04/2014 10:48

Personally I love the algorithms that facebook uses to figure out what I'd like from what I've already done.

I don't share a lot of personal information on there, many people probably think I'm very security conscious - but when it comes to linking me up to groups for niche interests, Facebook is GOLD.

So the fact that I liked my favourite sewing shop on there meant I was suggested a local sewing group that I'd never seen before which was fantastic for me. I've been sent similar useful links for my other dorky interests.

Yes they also try to get me to connect with friends of my Great Auntie Mildred or whatever but I'm happy to ignore those in return for the useful information it send me way.

Callani · 24/04/2014 10:49

*sends my way!

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 24/04/2014 10:51

FB only knows what information you give it........I don't think they hire Miss Marple to snoop on everyone on there.

Original poster
olgaga · 24/04/2014 11:15

Crikey, just want to say the only reason I posted that link here was because I often see "FB Related" threads here. There's one right now about someone's MIL. It's usually because some upset has been caused.

I tend to be cautious about what I put online, and FB isn't my cup of tea but I can assure you it doesn't make me toss my head, pictish, for whatever reason you were imagining I might do that.

OP posts:
alAswad · 24/04/2014 11:33

balenclaga me too! It looks fascinating... although all of my stuff is set to 'friends only', so I'm not sure it would show that as the article seemed to suggest it depended on your security settings.

I don't really understand the hysteria about facebook 'knowing everything' (not just on here) - it only 'knows' what you choose to share. MN itself is going to contain a huge amount of personal information about its regular users as well, perhaps even more intimate stuff as people feel more comfortable sharing when they're 'anonymous' - except they're probably not, to the staff, who presumably have their email addresses and could easily look them up on facebook or LinkedIn or many other sites if they were so inclined. I don't agree with all that 'only put things online that you'd be happy with your granny seeing' as it's nearly always possible to make safe assumptions about who's going to be able to see what you post and/or link it with you, but it's worth bearing in mind that even things shared on supposedly anonymous websites can probably be traced back to you by someone.

As an aside, I CANNOT WAIT for Watch Dogs to come out - it sounds incredible Smile

JimmyCorkhill · 24/04/2014 11:34

Slightly at a tangent but:

A little techy programme invented by some sweaty palmed geek who still lives with his mammy

I find this quite offensive.

HaroldLloyd · 24/04/2014 11:44

Facebook is only really a means of communication. It's like hating all telephones or something because you've had a few bad calls.

If your Facebook is full of arseholes then it will annoy you, but I am fairly sure mark zuckerburg isn't sitting in his mansion spying on what I'm having for my dinner.

Catsmamma · 24/04/2014 11:46

why Jimmy....do you have a bedsit of your own? ;)

KissesBreakingWave · 24/04/2014 11:46

Facebook knows what you tell it. My FB profile is full of hilariously obvious lies. Yours should be too. FB is paying for data with your service. Nowhere in their Ts&Cs does it say it has to bear even a tangential relationship with the truth.

It also makes the targeted advertising way more entertaining.

alAswad · 24/04/2014 11:51

Ooh ouch Jimmy, I missed that one... for one thing, what makes you think it must have been written by a man?

DrankSangriaInThePark · 24/04/2014 11:55

Autocorrect and self-flagellation:

A great big ginormous important techy programme invented by a dead important computer programmer with well developed sense of humour......

StanleyLambchop · 24/04/2014 12:04

It doesn't just know what you tell it though- my earlier post was an example of when FB contacted me when I was not even a member- because it had snooped through the Emails of a friend who was a member. Just because my friend is on FB and I sent her an email, does not give FB the right to capture my Email address and contact me. It would be different if I had given then my address by signing up. But I hadn't.............

So, tell me again about how they only use the information that you give them???

SagaNorensLeatherTrousers · 24/04/2014 12:10

Stanley, it's not a big deal though, is it? They found you, invited you to join, you declined. Nothing else will happen to you as far as I'm aware. Confused

alAswad · 24/04/2014 12:12

DrankSangria, you might not have a well developed sense of humour either if you got the same stereotypes all the time... but on the other hand, this gender-neutral techie person (well, people, probably) have got a job most of us sweaty-palmed geeks would kill for, so I highly doubt s/he cares about either of our points of view Grin

FreudiansSlipper · 24/04/2014 12:16

fb is a great platform to use to keep in touch with people, join groups etc that is what you join for not for them to snoop through you other stuff that you have not choosen to share with them and use you as a way to connect to others

I would not be happy if a bank contacted me as they have seen I have paid some money into an account of a friend gone through her emails to gain information (my contact details) on others so why is it ok for fb to do that