Privacy



http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2010/05/19/60-
facebook-users-quitting-privacy/

 Facebook has many options for privacy. Users are able to choose their own settings for privacy. Although it may seem like all the information that a user has is completely private, there is always a chance that the information will escape the chosen boundaries (Romaniuk). Romaniuk says "Whatever you choose to post online can never be entirely private." Every "friend" that a user has is able to see everything posted on their profile and some information is possible for everyone to view. When asked if Facebook is still worth using despite the negative effects, an interviewee replied, "For those who don't mind their life being an open book"(Schoonover). This shows that most information posted on Facebook cannot be completely private and almost anyone has the option to view it.

Soon, users no longer keep personal information just to themselves. According to Lorraine, "Users will post the kind of information that would normally be reserved for a close friend," they begin to share everything with everyone. People will post pictures, which can make them look bad, such as photos from last week's party (Lorraine). Also, from a user's Facebook page, someone can learn a person's full name, email address, school and current city, and sometimes, their phone number.

Since a user's profile page can be found from searching someone's full name, everyone can search for almost anyone. This can include exes, concerned parents, and stalkers (Lorraine). Even employers will often use Facebook as a background check for possible job candidates (Romaniuk). If the social networking site is not used carefully and responsibly, the many privacy concerns can eventually lead to more negative effects.