Top 5 Facebook Privacy Settings You Need To Know (PHOTOS)

Facebook responded to user outcry over the site's more permissive and complex privacy settings by announcing new, simplified privacy controls that aim to give users more ownership over their personal information.

Providing these more straightforward and easy-to-use privacy settings is a good first step--but for these changes to be effective, Facebook users need to know what the new controls are, and how to use them.

We've put together a guide to five crucial new privacy settings every Facebook user needs to know and check, with instructions on how to access them and why they matter.

Check them out in the slideshow below, then tell us: What do you think of Facebook's new privacy controls? Are they enough or do they still fall short?

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Public Search Visibility

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Do you want people to be able to locate and view a preview of your Facebook profile when they search for your name on a search engine? If not, it's crucial you disable your visibility on Public Search. As Facebook explains, "Public search controls whether things you've specifically chosen to share with everyone show up in searches on and off Facebook. It also controls whether people who enter your name in a search engine will see a preview of your Facebook profile." To access: Click Account-->Privacy Settings--> Applications and Websites --> Public Search

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Do you want people to be able to locate and view a preview of your Facebook profile when they search for your name on a search engine? If not, it's crucial you disable your visibility on Public Search. As Facebook explains, "Public search controls whether things you've specifically chosen to share with everyone show up in searches on and off Facebook. It also controls whether people who enter your name in a search engine will see a preview of your Facebook profile."
To access: Click Account-->Privacy Settings--> Applications and Websites --> Public Search

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Comments

[Saharadevi]

07:58 PM on 06/07/2010

There is also an 'Only me' setting under 'customize'

[wkillpatri]

01:53 AM on 06/06/2010

Good grief. If you don't want to share all your private information, DON'T ENTER IT WHEN YOU REGISTER for an account. If you're already provided such info, go back and edit it. I'm not a big fan of social networking sites in general. But an interesing name, somehting close to, but not exactly your age, gender, race, etc. can present a good approximation of who you are without giving away the whole enchilada.

[RonRutherford]

11:07 PM on 06/05/2010

If people are that concerned about privacy, they should probably avoid the internet altogether. A script in a malicious advertisement on a website alone can harm your privacy (and computer) much more than what FB has done. That being said, it's probably wise to block most of your posts from your family if your social life is anything like mine, hah. I'd prefer my Aunt doesn't hear about the 6 bottles of wine I drank the previous night in a classic game of "Tour de Franzia"

[TheRewdDewd]

06:34 PM on 06/05/2010

I think those dewds at facebook are crafty little bastages and they fully had every intention of settying it up that way. Which kind of speaks to a larger conspiracy of companies, financial institutions, etc in collusion to hose me and you. Its funny how this thing called the Internet has changed us in how we conduct business, socialize - heck, even having sex. Its become a real sickness for millions of folks. The Internet is an Entity and IT is controling US. Does it seem that way to anyone? Because we think WE invented it we think we have complete control of it. It doesn't seem that way to me at all.

[J0E1]

03:03 PM on 06/04/2010

I posted this on another article but I'll post it here too as a "tip"

So, yesterday I discovered something I hadn't noticed before. Mind you, I've been using facebook since it was restricted to .edu emails, but lately I haven't been using it very much so I haven't been keeping up. A friend of mines mom set up a facebook account. She uploaded a bunch of pictures and people started commenting on them. She commented back and something odd showed up on her comments that I've never seen. On every one of her comments was a signature with her full name and phone number. The best part? SHE couldn't see the signature so she had no idea it was showing up. Luckily we got in to her account and restricted everything. I think its a disgrace to introduce something like a comment signature with personal information and hide it from the user. How is a user to know that her phone number is everywhere she posts if even she can't see it? That's downright deceptive practice. The worst part is that even after we "hid" everything from the public, the signature still showed on her past comments. We had to go back and delete every comment she had made up until that point. Just letting anyone know who doesn't know any better that they may be broadcasting their personal information all over the place even after they change their privacy settings.

[Tenley]

06:36 AM on 06/04/2010

The "info accessible through friends" was an eye-opener -- as is always the case with Facebook, whenever the site goes through a reorganization, there is a whole new slew of privacy categories to go through and click off of the wide-open default settings. Honestly.

[zannamar]

11:19 AM on 06/07/2010

Privacy settings > Applications and websites(bottom left side of page) > Info accessible through friends. Here is where the public (google) search is and the instant personalization, both of which are mentioned in the article

[zannamar]

11:20 AM on 06/07/2010

sorry meant for comment below..oops

[Asmodeus]

03:53 AM on 06/04/2010

Oooorr, you could just not participate in the pathetic high-school-politic popularity contest for people with pitifully low self-esteem, and/or no real connections with the ACTUAL people in their lives, and want to complain to SOMEONE about their bad day on the toilet, or at work, or at home.

I'll admit, this site isn't a whole lot better in that regard sometimes, but at least the vast majority of us can say we come here to be heard on matters of actual importance. Most people on facebook are there because 'everyone else is doing it.'

If civilization at all survives the fall of our efforts at global empire, we're going to be mocked and ridiculed for CENTURIES. And rightly so.

[KataVideo]

12:23 AM on 06/04/2010

Is this information out of date?

I can't find this "sharing on facebook", the ""Info accessible through your friends" looks totally different, and "Account --> Privacy Settings --> Basic Directory Information" does not exist.

[SusanStoHelit]

10:04 PM on 06/03/2010

I kept my family and friends updated on my pregnancy, delivery, and issues with Facebook, I was able to let everyone see the first photos, hear all the updates they wished to have. Other people I know have posted updates they couldn't bear to report if they had to phone everyone, on the gradual death of a loved one. Facebook has privacy issues - but it is a very valuable resource, so learning how to properly protect your information is a very good thing.

[sunbeltvoter]

09:54 PM on 06/03/2010

5 Best Facebook Settings Recommendations :

1. Do not ever ever I mean ever start an account or post anything at that Privacy Vacuum Machine known as Facebook. Got it, geek wannabe?

2. Why are your reading 2? Are you a Republican Senator or a computer illiterate half term quitter-Governor of Alaska? What the eff see #1 above. Is public skool education in the USA so bad that you have to read down to #2? What part of #1 do you not understand?

3. See 1.

4. See 1.

5. See 1.

6. Get a life. And that does NOT include a Twitter or MyEffingWastaTimeSpace Page.

[cimoonled]

09:39 PM on 06/03/2010

It's very useful, via it I know how to share some confidential information with my LED Light client in the facebook. Thank you very much for your information.

[ProfGiles]

09:29 PM on 06/03/2010

Much ado about nothing. These people in hysterics over Facebook's privacy non-issue probably think nothing about giving their credit car to the waitperson at a restaurant. You do realize don't you that it only takes them 15 seconds for them to swipe your credit card through a reader and steal your personal information right? Yet on Facebook no one can see anything you don't put there.

So if you really want someone to not know things about you - don't post it on the Internet. ANYWHERE!

How...hard...is...that...to...understand?????????

[Nick Anthony]

10:28 PM on 06/03/2010

Right on. I can be found all over the web. I've no fear because I only share what I don't mind people finding. Some people just have to have drama in their lives to feel important and having a villain to blame that drama is golden to the drama queens out there. LOL! RUUUNNNNN...ITS THE ATTACK OF THE KILLER ID STEALING NERD. AGGGHHHH. Weeeeeeeeeeeee.

[MoLester]

12:59 AM on 06/04/2010

Did you really expect to see anything but whining and slander from these people?

[PiperWaters]

09:06 PM on 06/03/2010

Glad Facebook has updated its privacy policy. It's very meaningful to many people's lives, some couldn't do without it. Although I am still upset that it linked me to another site through my email address - which was supposed to be private (for that F**k you FB!!)

However, to show a bit of support, it looks like those folks permanently bashing FB simply feel threatened by the transparency it has promoted across media channels. Funny thing though, the 'haters' go on to create or join groups such as 'I hate FB', where they rant over and over about it. How ironic...

[lost souls rembrd]

08:41 PM on 06/03/2010

I've used it ........for a very brief time.

I was shocked at how much information is available to others ..I cherish what is left of my privacy.

Social Security numbers were NEVER meant to be used except for the Feds.

Very little in todays world respects an individuals right to not have anything and everything to anyone. I had a difficult time finding every little 'corner' to find yet another area in Facebook that people could see.

No. I really cherish my privacy and the fact that it was once what made this country so great. Respect for the American citizen. Bill of Rights.

[Nick Anthony]

10:31 PM on 06/03/2010

Oh man. LOL. Chill out. It's the internet. Nobody is sitting next to you with a gun making you post your information there. It is simple. Don't post what you want to keep private. That goes for anywhere ion the web. Only an idiot would panic over internet safety. I do believe in controlling ones information but it is largely up to the individual when it comes to social networking. If you are afriad of using your real info make an online persona and roll with that. Durrrrrrr. LOL. Wow. Get a grip man.

[lost souls rembrd]

10:39 PM on 06/03/2010

Perhaps I didn't express myself well. Let's try this: The government has more invasive tatics they use on Americans and gather information in the name of homeland security. Fear. Just having a computer exposes A LOT of our information. I use it and do all I can to keep it limited.

facebook is fine. Have at your social arena. There are a lot of people, such as yourself apparently, that have no regard on who know what about you. It's the information age.

Thanks for expressing yourself. Nick.

[adamhide]

08:01 PM on 06/03/2010

All the haters are out. I think the article was for us that enjoy facebook and continue to use it, and want to be safe, which there is still 400 millions. I still think it's funny all the people that bash it that have never used it, I hope it makes them feel better being that much more superior then us lowlies that still use Facebook...

[DangerWillRobinson]

08:08 PM on 06/03/2010

Why take this so personally?

Remember MySpace?

Nuff said.

George Bush has a Facebook account.

Nuff said.

[adamhide]

08:19 PM on 06/03/2010

Why people all worked up about it? Especially people posting on a public internet site. Seems hypocritical, that's all.

Obama has one too, as does the OFA, and Ron Paul, and Ronald McDonald, and even Hal Leonard Band & Orchestra company, 400 million people have one, wow even HuffPo has one.

I also remember Six Degrees, Friendster, and ICQ. Want to know something, I know what is going on more with my friends and have more regular conversations with old friends than either of my parents, and way more than my grand-parents.

The way the economy is, and how people have to move to get jobs these days, it is really nice to have a way to stay in contact with people, before having the long phone conversations...

[Beth Boyle]

08:27 PM on 06/03/2010

Exactly use it creatively and not as a place to bare your soul. It can be very useful and allot of fun.