How Facebook knows your butt itches

[Bob Of Burleson]

By Caitlin Dewey
The Washington Post

Last week, a Redditor named easyjet decided to (very belatedly) join the global party that is Facebook. He signed up with an e-mail address he never, ever used. He lied about all of his personal information.

So he was rightly freaked out when Facebook still managed to predict and “recommend” a huge number of his real-life acquaintances — down to people whose names he barely knew and a woman he dated 19 years ago.
(Someecards)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the- ... nes&wpmm=1

[Red Oak]

because so many there are talking out of it ?

[LibraryLady]

I use a hotmail account that has no contacts in my email list.
I have a browser dedicated to FB use only.
I use a fake name over there.
So far, my system is working.

But, FB is really annoyed that I won't give it more information on my profile and I keep getting reminders that I have not finished my information.

[ann jusko]

They're annoyed at me and I use my real name and the same browser. "Where did you work at retired? What schools did you attend?' But my favorite is that I attended East Texas State University. I did not "attend", I taught there. Well, I guess I did go there to teach so I attended there. I've never corrected that because I'd have to replace it with something else. I don't give my birth place or schools attended. It's like giving my social security number. Oh wait....the .gov has made sure that's available to any medical facility, hasn't it?

[millergrovesue]

I have filled out almost nothing on FB either. No likes, no favorites, etc. Every time I look at something on Amazon it shows up as an ad on the right side of my FB page.

[BigTex]

Anyone who expects privacy when they use social media doesn't really understand how the world works.

[GFB]

You are, by definition..giving up what privacy you had.

[millergrovesue]

Anyone who expects privacy when they use social media doesn't really understand how the world works.

I don't think anyone with common sense expects privacy on social media. If there is any question one can read the stories of those who have suffered the consequences for what they posted. I think by now we should know not to put anything onto any portion of the net that we don't want the entire world to know.

[BigTex]

I'm not talking about what you post. That's common sense. I don't post anything on social media that I would not want my mother or my employer to see. That includes what is posted in a supposedly "closed group."

What I'm talking about is the information you give as a condition of signing up for the service. It may not be a lot, but someone who knows what he is doing doesn't need a lot.

[millergrovesue]

I'm not talking about what you post. That's common sense. I don't post anything on social media that I would not want my mother or my employer to see. That includes what is posted in a supposedly "closed group."

What I'm talking about is the information you give as a condition of signing up for the service. It may not be a lot, but someone who knows what he is doing doesn't need a lot.

The only place I know I have privacy...........I hope..............in this world is in my bathroom. My life is comparatively boring. I really don't care who knows about it.