Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Hide Your Facebook Pictures!

My son is in a band and the other night his band loaded a new song to their Facebook page. He asked me to go over and take a listen. While I was listening to the new song, I scrolled through the comments of the band’s friends and followers and took a look at the pictures of the band members. I clicked on my son’s name and it took me to his personal Facebook page pictures. Since I am not my son’s Facebook friend (nor would I want to be), I couldn’t see his regular Facebook page. I could however, see his pictures and those of many of his friends.

Many of us are warned in job search articles and trainings to change our Facebook Privacy Settings to make sure that only the basic facts appear. If not set correctly, a recruiter may click on your pictures (like I did) and see things that may give him or her a negative opinion about you. Since people make comments under those pictures, a recruiter (and your mother) can read those too. If a technically savvy 18 year old and many of his friends aren’t aware of this, you can bet that many other people are sharing their pictures and comments with the world as well.

Here is how to correct it:
1. Go to Account (upper right hand side of the screen by the login box).
2. Click Privacy Settings.
3. Review the page, “Choose Your Privacy Settings” and make sure that the term, “Photos and videos you are tagged in” is set to Friends only.
4. Click the phrase, “Edit privacy setting for existing photos albums and videos”. This takes you to all of your pictures. Under each set of pictures is a rectangular box with a diagram of a lock on it. Set the box to Friends Only.
5. Click the box that says “Preview my Profile”, review your changes and you are finished.

Whether you're job searching not; it's better to be safe and secure knowing that only your friends can see your pictures.

3 comments:

ctrapani85 said...

Many people are unaware that their personal information is available for future employers to view and judge on facebook and other social media sites. This is a great post. Thank you for guiding people through this process, as it is essential in securing a job!

Nancy Range Anderson said...

Thanks for commenting Caitlin. You are so right, all it takes is a quick look at your profile settings.

Nancy Range Anderson said...

Here is another thought about Facebook pictures. Sometimes people "tag" us in pictures; meaning they type our names to the picture allowing it to be visable to our/their friends. If you don't want the picture available for all to see, go to the picture and "untag" your name.

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