Home ยป Internet Safety for Kids

Facebook Security

Kids and adults today are spending several hours a day on Facebook. Facebook over the last several month has tried to incorporate several new internet safety features. These new safety features are designed to give Facebook users better privacy.

The problem with the new security setting is that they are confusing to understand. The new safety features do provide better internet safety for kids if they can understand them. The biggest issue here at the at the center for internet safety and security is that not all security setting are in one location. We will break down all the safety settings and show you what they should be set at. 

Here is a quick breakdown of the new Facebook Security Options

 

Everyone – All information on your profile is exposed to the entire internet. You are completely exposed to the everybody on the internet.

  • This is the worst option. Don't allow any safety setting to be Everyone.

Friends and Networks – Means that your friends and networks have complete access to your entire profile.

  • We don't recommend this setting because you don't know everybody in the network.

Friends of Friends – All friends and friends of your friends has complete access to your profile

  • This is ok, but does give profiles more exposure than we like.

Only Friends – Only friends you approve has access to your profile

  • Best safety Option. This only give friends you approve of access to your profile.

Customize – Create custom security access to your profile.

  • Don't recommend creating custom settings unless you know what your doing.

 

Step 1: To find the security settings click on Account → Privacy Settings. Here is the main menu for all the security settings.

 

 

Step 2: Click on Profile Information. Here you will see the safety setting for your profile. You see safety setting for Personal Info, Birthday, Education and Work, Photos, and etc. Here is a simple breakdown of all your options. We recommend all safety settings to Only Friends.

 

 

 

Step 3: Click on Photo Albums. Verify that only Friends has access to view photos.

 

 

Step 4: Go back to Account → Privacy Settings. Click on contact information. Verify that all setting are set to Only Friends. However, we do recommend that for the safety setting Add me as a friend to everyone. This will allow be people to add you as a friend.

 

 

Step 5: Click on Back to Privacy and go to Applications and Websites. Click on edit settings for What your friends can share about you. We are very displeased with Facebook on this settings. By default Facebook allows applications that your friends use full access to your account. These applications can can scan all the information on profile. Companies they can send email or messages on products they offer. Facebook should never allow applications that people don't use full access to profiles. Uncheck everything and hit Save Changes.

 

 

Step 6: Verify that Activity on Applications and Games Dashboards is set to Only Friends