Can someone please advise me how to avoid being outed on facebook / MN via 'like' facility.

[Owlelf]

I am trying to keep up with the 'like' button issue.

I am on facebook and think that I have tight security settings (but they change so often that it is hard to keep up). I haven't linked my FB account to my mumsnet account (at least not knowingly).

I am also on Mumsnet and tend to name change fairly often. I usually namechange after I think I have given enough identifying information out under each name, so I change to avoid being outed IRL.

I am a little confused by the mumsnet 'like' button. I understand that if I clicked it, it could show on my facebook page as something I like. But how does 'the internet' know to link to my facebook page?

Also, there seems to be some suggestion that if another mumsnetter clicks 'like' on MN, the thread she is on could get shown on the FB pages of other mumsnetters on that thread (even though they have not liked the thread). Is this the case??

Anyway while the debate continues about this (and I can see why it is causing so much concern), can anyone advise me as to how I can avoid my posts on MN being linked to my FB account.

Many thanks,

Yes, I'm not planning to click the button but am also confused as to how if I did it would know which FB page to put it on. Is it to do with the fact that FB will recognise the IP adress of the computer you're using?? So on my laptop if I go onto FB I'm automatically logged on, I suppose its just like that.

Just to clarify . If another poster likes a thread that I am on, it won't get linked to my FB account. Somehow, from reading other threads about this I thought that this could happen!!

1. '[your fb name] liked a link' will appear with a link on your page. There will be NO MENTION of your MN. Nickname, or any mention of whether you are even on the thread.

2. Wrong, wrong, wrong, bonkers, and wrong. And simply untrue.

3. Don't click the button!

Yes viva, it'll be the account you're signed in on. But even if you do accidentally post a link, you can erase it from your feed very easily.

Thanks Gin sounds all a little less scarey now you have clarified that. Didn't realise there was no mention of your MN name on FB either. Sounds far better now I know that.....

Sorry, that came across far more terse than I intended. The rumour and hysteria around this button astound me!

Please don't apologise!! I am very grateful that you have clarified this......

Just don't click it.

And, also (but not related to the button, just related to not being outed), don't write on a thread "my name is Julia and I'm 37 and I live in Cheltenham and my husband is Bill and my children are Sarah and Louise".

Hi Owleif

Just to clarify.

If you click on the 'like' tab it will post a link to that thread on your Facebook page. It will only do this IF you are logged into Facebook and/or you have cookies enabled (eg your computer remembers your log in for Facebook/MN etc).

If you are not logged into Facebook/ don't have a Facebook account/ don't have cookies enabled or logins stored then it will not post on your Facebook wall.

If someone else clicks Like, it WILL NOT/ CANNOT post it to your wall or connect it to you at all. Your Mumsnet and Facebook accounts are not linked in anyway unless you click the like button and then your computer does the linking.

If you have any other questions please do ask, it is very confusing but we are more than happy to explain.

Thanks Rebecca and everyone else who has explained it. I get it now. Its not actually that confusing is it?!? . I think I got rather muddled from reading other threads about it......

If this is a concern I'd be thinking about how the German publishing/news site did it - heise.de have a 'two click to like' thing. The first click loads the FB code and the second click triggers the like.

The page loads faster (no FB overhead) - they can't see what you're doing and it's pure opt-in. Much much cleaner.

news/press about it here and the site (in german) heise.de.

Just saying.

OP - I think some confusion may have arisen as apparently it is possible to unintentionally post to eg another family member's FB account if they are logged in on that computer.

So even if YOU are the one clicking 'Like' on MN, the 'Like Link' can in theory behave as if your DH or DC had clicked it rather than you, and appear as part of their FB activity. Which may or may not be a problem.

Thanks Gin and Rebecca