Facebook Safety - by Wendy Gale

Facebook.com by Wendy Gale


Facebook.com: The History
Mark Zuckerberg, while studying psychology at Harvard University launched The Facebook in February 2004. Already skilled at computer programming and creating social networking sites for classmates, Zuckerberg named his newest creation after paper copies of student and staff profiles giving to incoming freshmen. The site’s popularity spread quickly.
Within 24 hours, 1,200 Harvard students had signed up, and after one month, over half of the undergraduate population had a profile. Zuckerberg quickly extended membership to other Boston universities and Ivy League institutions. In time, he allowed students at other colleges and universities to join. After a name change to Facebook.com in September 2005, the site extended its membership to US high school students. This change started the spread of global popularity. Beginning in September 2006, anyone 13-years-old or older with a registered email address and could gain access to site. Zuckerberg remains the owner of Facebook.com despite offers to sell for rumored figures around $2 billion.
Sheridan MOPs and Facebook.com
Like you, I kept receiving emails from friends inviting me to join Facebook, but I was leery and hesitated for a great while. I finally took the plunge in July 2008. After carefully setting my security settings, I sought out to find lost friends and was amazed at how many people I knew already existed within Facebook. Since joining, I have been able to catch up with friends near and far and stay better connected.
In January 2009, our MOPS table had a very moving discussion about our personal fears. As is often the case, the need to pickup our children interrupted a great conversation I was not ready to end. During naptime that day, I created a “group” on Facebook and invited real-life friends from MOPS already on Facebook to join the group. The group has a place for discussions. While I have posted a few questions and enjoyed reading everyone’s responses, I encourage everyone to continue discussions started at MOPS and bring up other issues of parenting and life.
The parameters of the group are set high to protect our children and ourselves. As it stands, anyone on Facebook can see the name and description of the group but only group members can see the other aspects of the group like general discussions, wall postings, event listings, photographs, etc. Members do have the ability to start discussions, upload links, and post pictures/video. Membership in the group is open to all members of our local MOPS group.
Personal Safety
In today’s world, we cannot be too careful about disclosing our personal information including photographs and details about children. Participation in Facebook and other social networking sites is no different.
Facebook offers a number of suggestions to help users focus on their personal safety while using the site. These include:
· Never share your password with anyone
· Adjust your privacy settings to match your level of comfort and review them often
· Be cautious about posting and sharing personal information, especially information that could be used to identify you or locate you offline, such as your address or telephone number
· Report users and content that violate our Terms of Use
· Block and report anyone that sends you unwanted or inappropriate communications
Additionally, Facebook warns that “although using fake names is a violation of the Facebook Terms of Use, people are not always who they say they are. You should always be careful when sending friend requests to, or accepting friend requests from people you do not know in the real world. And it is always risky to meet anyone in person whom you don't know through real world friends.”
Using Facebook.com
Privacy Settings
Facebook.com encourages users to customize their privacy settings. Access to individual privacy settings are located at the top right of the Facebook.com screens.



When setting your privacy levels, consider if you are comfortable being found in searches or having your profile viewed by people from your school, workplace, or regional network.
Friend Lists
Facebook is based on a list of friends. In order to become friends with someone, both parties must agree to the friendship. Finding real-life friends on Facebook can be a lot of fun, but at times users receive friend requests from people they do not want to communicate with or have access to their profile. Users can refuse friend requests without the requesting party knowing. Additionally, users can remove friends from their friends list without the other party’s knowledge.

Photographs
Facebook allows users to post pictures and name their friends in the pictures with tags. Because other users are able to name you in a picture, the site allows users to remove their name from a picture by clicking on the “Remove Tag” link next to their name. If you do not want the photo to be shown at all, Facebook encourages users to talk to the person who posted it. They should be respectful enough to remove unwanted photos. Unfortunately, Facebook cannot make users remove photos that do not violate our Terms of Use.


Finding OUR MOPS on Facebook.com
To find the Restoration MOPS group on Facebook, enter “Restoration MOPS” in the search field.



After you have requested membership to the group and an administrator has acknowledged your request, you can find our MOPS group by selecting the “groups” icon at the bottom of your screen.

When posting on our MOPS, please keep comments and subjects supportive and Christ centered.
Come check out Facebook.com and the RestorationMOPS group.