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Facebook Changes and Abuses Part 2

By
Real Estate Agent with Florida Property Experts
  Facebook Info/Warning. You read it on Lisa Hill's Daytona Beach - Port Orange Real Estate Blog.

work and computerMy last post was a reblog of C Tann Star's post about recent changes on Facebook, that allowed random people to add you to groups without your knowledge. At that point, and up until now, I had not had this personally happen to me... that I know of. But just a few minutes ago, I was logged in, and a box popped up at the bottom of my screen, saying that *insert name* had just added me to the group "Please Join! Stop Bullying In Schools!!".

Well, that certainly sounds like a worthy cause, but the problem is, I did not add myself to the group. Someone else took it upon themselves to add me. To take this to an extreme, isn't that a violation of our Civil Rights? Of my own volition, that may be a group that I would choose to join. But to have myself added, without even a request by this person; now that just ticks me off. So I immediately followed the link, and removed myself from the group.

If you haven't read my re-blog post yet, please do so, and change your settings so this can't happen to you! (Instructions are in the post.) What if the group had been something offensive? And as Americans, don't we all want the right to make our own decisions and choices about where we decide to join the fight?

Well, I'm now going to stop procrastinating, and go change my settings ASAP! I suggest you all do the same; especially if you don't login and check your news feed every day. In that case, who knows what kind of abuses can take place without your knowledge, and actually cost you business if your name is showing up on an offensive list?

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Comments (16)

Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Thanks for the information.  I am going to have to check my settings.  This is important information and I want to make sure no one adds me to a group I am not interested in joining.

Oct 23, 2010 03:48 PM
Lori Mode
The Mode Real Estate Group - Elk Grove, CA
Real Estate Made Simple

Lisa - haven't had this happen to me, but thanks for the heads up!  Off to make sure my settings are ok right now.

Oct 23, 2010 03:49 PM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Lisa...

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm going to check my FaceBook settings right now,

Oct 23, 2010 03:49 PM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Settings are crucial. These blogs posts are so helpful. Keeping us all in line.

Oct 23, 2010 03:52 PM
Steve, Joel & Steve A. Chain
Chain Real Estate Investments & Mortgage, Steve & Joel Chain - Cottonwood, CA

Lisa,

These recent developments have captured far more attention than the FREQUENT changes that FB has been making for awhile. 

Steve

Oct 23, 2010 03:52 PM
Trish Sarfert
Coldwell Banker Realty - Pensacola, FL
Serving military & civilian relocations!

Lisa, we also have to be especially careful as Realtors, because being added to some groups could be offensive to some potential clients.  Facebook does have a lot of good ideas, but they certainly have also had their share of not-so-great ideas.

Oct 23, 2010 03:59 PM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Great reminder to check your Facebook Settings daily.   Neither Facebook, nor many of the people who use it, can be trusted.

It is also advisable to check settings, profile pics, etc. on ALL of your Email Accounts, Social Networks, Blogs, etc. on a regular basis.

Oct 23, 2010 04:04 PM
Susan Neal
RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

Hi Lisa - I do think we should all regularly check our privacy settings.  They keep adding new features that some love, but that don't interest me.  The one that concerned me most was the one that allows others to post where you are at any given time.  I don't necessarily want everyone to know when I'm not home and where I am.  You can change this one too, so that only you can post where you are (or not).

Oct 23, 2010 04:13 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Lisa - I took care of this before, as you advised. It's hard to keep up with all the FB changes, and I don't like they seem to be things you need to opt out of, instead of opting in. I find it very hard to trust FB at this point, but at the same time there is a lot of utility to be part of the Face, as TLW calls it.

Jeff

Oct 23, 2010 05:34 PM
Jason Channell
Diadem Property Inspections - Serving Southeast Michigan - Troy, MI
The House Sleuth

Good warning! Facebook has been all over the news lately (especially Wall Street Journal) for all kinds of privacy violations.

Oct 23, 2010 05:51 PM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

Thanks, Lisa. I am beginning to lose confidence that Facebook can guard any information about a member.

Oct 24, 2010 01:08 AM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

I have also dealt with at least 2 other issues from the management st FB in the recent past and I appreciate the heads up on this one! Hope you are doing well!

Oct 24, 2010 02:15 PM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate

Hey Everyone: Glad to be of service. And unfortunately, I don't think it has ever been FB's intention to "safeguard" any of our info. Although, I didn't think it was possible to outdo Google, they sure are doing a bang-up job!

Oct 27, 2010 05:27 AM
John Mayer
Oikos Realty, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach Florida - Cocoa Beach, FL
Your Beach Area Expert

Lisa - Nothing would surprise me about Facebook. I'll have to keep my eyes open for this - Thanks!

Oct 27, 2010 05:32 AM
Betina Foreman
WJK Realty - Austin, TX
Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY

thanks for the warning. I'm going to update my FB settings.  This just seems very wrong on so many levels!

Jan 19, 2012 02:26 AM
Robert May
Robert W May - Lethbridge Real Estate - Lethbridge, AB
Real estate consulting

it has been a long time since I have seen a post on your blog, just checking back on a bunch of the good people that I have on my followed blog list.  Hope you are well and one day return to Activerain.

Mar 14, 2016 06:32 AM