O/T #deletefacebook

As we are not friends on Facebook only1kp I will have to use the BBS to let you know that I have a nice piece of Haddock for tea tonight along with peas and wedges beetroot and a pickled onion. For sweet there are individual triffles in the fridge.

 

I watch a lot of real crime shows, basically if you have a smartphone or internet your on tag. Not a problem for me as I’ve never had any dealings with the law. But it’s just a sign of the times.

 

That's what I thought... It's how sites make their money..

 

Serious question.

What took you so long?

 

I don't really know to be honest. I deleted all social media apps from my phone last year so was only really using Messenger or the desktop version for work-related purposes anyway. I guess, though, that a lot of my reluctance came down to the fact I am part of the "Facebook Generation" in that I was 16 when it came to the U.K. If you go through my profile you can basically see me grow up; there's a status and a pic of me on the day I past my driving test, some of my first lads holiday, uni drinking days, ex-girlfriends, new jobs, new cities, new friends etc. My entire adult life is documented there, and as ****** up as it is, for some reason that's not easy to just wipe off.

And I can't say I was immune to or above the addictive effects of the Newsfeed and notification system either, which work in exactly the same way as fixed-odd betting terminals. Really noticed that after reading this: https://www.amazon.com/Irresistible-Addictive-Technology-Business-Keeping/dp/1594206643

I also moved country a few years ago and, though I never really get homesick, there was still something to be said for opening Facebook and seeing what some random person from school is up to, or what was happening in the village I grew up in.

For the other people above, I know that Facebook isn't the only problem and I'm fully aware of impending policy changes etc, but knowing now the role Facebook played in the U.S. election, U.K. referendum and god knows how many elections around the world, I no longer want anything to do this company and certainly don't want to give them anymore data. Third party apps aren't the only problem either.

 

I've never understood how someone can put something on Facebook, then complain about it getting into the public domain. If it's that private, why not just keep it to yourself?

Anyway I can't hang about on here, I'm just filling in a survey to try to win a Range Rover.

 

Every picture. Every comment. Every like.

Your entire adult life.

All owned by facebook and its various subsiduries.

Scary innit.

 

I'm 50 this year, the internet didn't exist to me in my youth and I've survived. Never done Facebook and I've survived. There's a reason I don't communicate with everyone in my past I've ever met.......it's cos I don't want to. I'm happy being a luddite thanks.

 

This. Not saying I'm ok with the whole malarkey but if you want exist in the digital world it is unfortunately the reality. Just try not to worry about it.

 

Well, it’s the reality now but that’s not to say things can’t change. If only slowly. That won’t happen without pressure from government, or, if people stop using platforms that abuse data. My decision to leave is a more of a political protest, albeit a small one, than a fear of my data being misused.

There are signs gen Z kids are already moving away from social media, particularly Facebook.

 

They are moving to different social media.

 

I would advise everyone to do as I have just done and look at your app settings and edit them accordingly at this page: https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=applications

I deleted apps that I don't use (old games etc.) and went through every app I wanted to keep and edited the settings. The amount of permissions they have is crazy, why does a Candycrush type game need to have access to: your home town, status updates, religious and political views, date of birth, photos and videos, work history, education history, likes, groups etc.?

Also click on 'Apps others use' lower down and select/deselect what data you want your friends to take with them.





This is also a pretty interesting page which I cleared out a few months ago which tells you what information advertisers have about you, how they have categorised you (e.g. female, over 25, likes sports etc.) and what types of adverts you will see based on that (on the 'Your information' tab click on 'Your categories'). https://www.facebook.com/ads/preferences/?entry_product=ad_settings_screen

 

Thank you so much JD for posting this. I genuinely never realised how much info had been stored about me. Up to last week I never really thought about it, but it's a chilling thought to realise what's been going on behind my screen. Thanks again.

 

I went one step further and disabled the whole app platform, so I wouldn't absent-mindedly use anything, although I suspect that what I've been doing to earn Swagbucks has been much worse.

 

Ha, I've thought that about Swagbucks but I'm operating under the thoughts that:
a) I hope they don't pass on my personal details to the companies (I suspect they might be I've never received any spam on the email address I use for it)
b) they have no way to advertise to me or show articles on there (well other than the products they are canvassing opinions on but I mean political stuff)
c) the answers I give on there relating to personal circumstances are somewhat fluid depending on the nature of the survey and
d) they are at least paying me

 

It's difficult to know if I'm being spammed by email, as I use an old and already heavily spammed email address. However I'm now getting a lot of nuisance calls on my mobile that I wasn't getting before. It gets a bit annoying, but I've never answered anything from numbers which I don't recognise anyway. If it's important they'll leave a voicemail. The worry is that they are passing on enough info for identity fraud to take place and some of the recipients are crooks. I already had the perception that Swagbucks were less likely to be responsible with my data than Facebook. I don't know what to think now.

 

I didn’t give them my phone number so I wouldn’t know about that.

 

Go to facebook. Go to settings. Click download a copy of your data.

Prepared to be amazed.

 

Check all your privacy setting following this guide.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/team-blog/2018/03/20/check-your-facebook-settings-now/

You’ll be surprised how many third party apps you’ve inadvertently granted access to your friends lists, photos, phone number, political and religious views etc..

I’ve now locked mine down. I had 45+ apps that I didn’t realise were accessing more than just my basic profile info. Lad at work had over 150.