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AIBU?

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Original poster

Facebook is far Creepier than I realised!

84 replies

Rainbunny · 23/10/2015 23:27

I usually don't believe the warnings about facebook tracking stuff, like the post last week where the OP was worried that her ex could see that she'd been looking at his fb page. Then I read this article which explains a lot of strange things that I've experienced on FB, friend suggestions etc... I guess I'm posting this as more of a public service announcement than an AIBU. Definitely going to check my fb settings on my phone now!

www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2015/10/why_did_facebook_suggest_i_friend_my_ex.single.html

OP posts:
Floppityflop · 24/10/2015 08:56

This explains why at work I was getting pop-ups for Oakfurnitureland. DH must have been looking for furniture, somehow it knows we're married, my searches at home may be similar to at work and it knows it's me (even though I'm not logged in on Google at work I have email alerts set up at work email and I send pension / pay / holiday info to my home email). DH claims none of his data is "out there" as not on Facebook / LinkedIn but he's deluded. He's not a cyber security expert and neither am I. I do know that I don't understand it and never check the 50+ pages of Ts and Cs either. The privacy settings are too hard to understand too as they keep changing. What annoys me is that back in the day there was no thought police as you could just look stuff up in a library but now someone somewhere knows what articles you are reading and that creeps me out...

Floppityflop · 24/10/2015 08:57

Haha, now I've got a pop-up advert for SIS on Mumsnet jobs, as if to prove my point!

Floppityflop · 24/10/2015 08:58

PS I appreciate it is just because of the topic and not the specific content, as we are talking about cyber. ;-)

Anastasie · 24/10/2015 09:00

I remember trying to use a false name on FB and it wouldn't let me. It was horrible.

So they now insist on a phone number too?

Greedy bastards.

TheStripyGruffalo · 24/10/2015 09:02

That's so creepy. I just got a new phone which has FB installed, my old phone didn't. Yesterday I was on the computer and FB suggested somebody with the same name as an ex boyfriend from years ago. I'll be deleting the app later.

TheStripyGruffalo · 24/10/2015 09:03

FB doesn't have my phone number. Well not a real one anyway since I gave it the number of a PAYG I used to have.

ArkhamOffitt · 24/10/2015 09:05

It never had mine before, either, but this week I was logged out and had to provide one. A false or old one wouldn't work as it then texted me a code to enter. It was set to Only Me when I did it but reset to Friends when I checked.

TheStripyGruffalo · 24/10/2015 09:07

Olivers I have my real name on FB but a fake date of birth and other details. As for location ads, your ISP shares your location. Mine gets it wrong, they think I am in Scotland, if I turn off the ad blocker I get Scottish adverts.

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 24/10/2015 09:22

But why does it matter if they suggest friends to you based on your location etc? You don't have to add them as friends. It's supposed to be a helpful tool. Years ago I made a friend and then lost contact when I moved and lost my phone. She married and I didn't know her surname. A few weeks ago she was suggested to me as a friend. I don't know what link they made but I'm glad it was made as I can now make contact with her.

Oliversmumsarmy · 24/10/2015 09:26

Fluffy my phone is full of people who have given me quotes on jobs and people I have bought stuff off ebay. The lady in Yorkshire where I have just purchased a window from was very nice but is catergorically not a close friend. Sometimes we have people in our phones who we want to avoid.

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 24/10/2015 09:36

Sometimes we have people in our phones who we want to avoid

Ignore the 'people you may know' suggestion and don't add them then!

suzannecaravaggio · 24/10/2015 09:47

FB knows exactly who has looked at who and how often, imagine if it was hacked and all the data leaked, you can see that your neighbor has been obsessively browsing through all your pictures
Your ex can see that you are checking his account on a regular basis etc etc ?

diddl · 24/10/2015 09:53

I'm pretty sure that i've never given FB a telephone number!

AgentProvocateur · 24/10/2015 10:01

That's the whole point of facebook - social networking. The networking part is suggesting others you know / friends of friends etc.

KaraokeQueenOfTheNorth · 24/10/2015 10:05

I literally can't find it in me to be concerned about any of this kind of stuff. does that make me incredibly naive?!

ArkhamOffitt · 24/10/2015 10:11

Not really, Karaoke. Many people don't mind about all the privacy stuff, but I think it's a good idea to be aware of what you put on FB and how it's used. I don't particularly want my phone number open to all my Friends list, or see why FB needs it and I was a bit miffed to be blocked from using it until I gave one. But in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter that much.
I think some people have valid reasons for not being on there in their real name and disagree with the blocking and having to provide rl evidence to prove you are who you say you are.
FB isn't compulsory though, as is often said.

ArkhamOffitt · 24/10/2015 10:13

And lo and behold, People You May Know now includes work colleagues and my window cleaner. If I wanted them on my FB I would have asked them, so yep, fuck off with the phone contact mining.

suzannecaravaggio · 24/10/2015 10:22

Providing a free service has enabled them to grow a vast network of tentacles...a finger in every pie
God's eye view of social networks ?

thats how you 'pay' for FB, by kindly letting them into your life to sit and watch what you do and who you do it with

suzannecaravaggio · 24/10/2015 10:27

FB isn't compulsory though, as is often said
it doesnt need to be
the fact that everyone's on it is enough to make everyone want to be on it
Much better to persuade people that they want something than to try and enforce something ?

LagunaBubbles · 24/10/2015 10:41

It's a social network. Don't get these
threads.

suzannecaravaggio · 24/10/2015 11:00

You spend your free time noodling around on FB, they get very rich
You are working for them for free
I don't think it's a fair exchange! ?

differentnameforthis · 24/10/2015 11:34

Facebook are very open about this when you sign up. If you sync your contacts, this will happen.

perhaps you need to read what you are signing up for, instead of being shocked when you read stuff like this??

differentnameforthis · 24/10/2015 11:41

So the spam virus must have come via FB Probably from a third party app you logged into/used while on fb

Giving FB your phone number is now compulsory. It will lock you out of your account until you provide one and then type in the confirmation code you are sent. Not in my experience.

Sometimes we have people in our phones who we want to avoid Delete them?

fuck off with the phone contact mining. Except you gave them access to that info when you installed the app...

sltorres9 · 24/10/2015 11:52

Load of crap. My partner has started a new job, as soon as he had his new work place on Facebook for example Argos, loads of people who work at Argos started appearing. Nothing to do with him having their number. People are so paranoid

sltorres9 · 24/10/2015 11:55

Also I've been using my Facebook app for 3 years, not once has it asked for my phone number. Once you add information to your profile, it automatically looks up people with the same information.