One of my biggest frustrations with Facebook is the “share everything with everyone” ideology.

I think Facebook has been able to prey on the ignorance (read: simply not knowing) of the masses of  how to optimize their settings.

I’ve always had my privacy settings set quite high, but NEVER publish anything I wouldn’t want to see on a billboard.

Particularly after having my own privacy violated, I do not recommend you publish certain things including: when you go on vacation, your daily routine etc.

There are also ways to separate your business friends so they don’t see all your personal information (covered here)

I’m happy to see the new privacy changes and the mini-tutorial to let you know how to use it.

Here’s a quick overview:

STEP 1: Visual prompt for the virtual tour

STEP 2: “Tagging” –

Tagging means you can hotlink a picture or a comment and it will notify your friend.

Any time you “tag” your friend with a hotlink, it can also appear on their wall/news feed.

I’ve read you can also tag ANYONE, this means you can also tag people who are NOT friends (which is odd).

Thankfully, Facebook has allowed us to approve each tag, so before it appears on your wall, you have the opportunity to approve or ignore the tag.

STEP 3: Add a location to your posts

Like geo-location sites like Foursquare (and formerly Facebook Places) you can “check in” to let everyone know where you are.

The idea behind checking in is:

a) you may find another friend of yours is nearby and you can connect in real life.

b) when you “check in” to a certain bricks-and-mortar store (ie Starbucks), sometimes that retailer will give you freebies or coupons for simply mentioning their brand to your friends.

Some people like “checking in” but in my humble opinion, I don’t really want to read where people are (nor do I care). I’d rather have fewer quality posts from my friends from a daily list of placed they’ve visited.

Once again, I caution that if you have a specific daily routine and publish is, you can open yourself up to having your home robbed. It’s unlikely to happen, but as I mentioned – never publish anything you wouldn’t want to see on a billboard.

STEP 4: Controlling privacy

Yay! This is the BEST part. You can now customize your status update to publish to everyone or limit it to certain people or lists.

(The  short tutorial how to create lists is here)

So there you have it folks…Facebook allows you to customize and better control your posts.

What do you think of these new changes?

About Leslie Hughes

Leslie Hughes is a LinkedIn Optimization Specialist, LinkedIn Top Voice, and Corporate Trainer with over 25 years of experience in digital marketing and LinkedIn profile writing. As the Principal of PUNCH!media and author of "CREATE. CONNECT. CONVERT," Leslie helps executives and professionals optimize their LinkedIn profiles, generate leads, and attract higher-paying clients. Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice—an exclusive honor from LinkedIn—Leslie is a trusted authority on LinkedIn profile optimization, AI-driven marketing strategies, and digital identity management. Her expertise has been featured on CBC Radio, where she was called a "Social Media Guru," and on CTV’s "The Social," where she shared strategies for managing digital identity. Leslie empowers professionals to leverage generative AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance marketing strategies, boost efficiency, and create impactful content that converts. She helps businesses understand how to use LinkedIn for lead generation and how AI can revolutionize their digital marketing efforts. Leslie has worked with top organizations like Investment Planning Counsel, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, JLL, and Franklin Templeton, optimizing LinkedIn profiles and providing corporate training that delivers measurable results. Leslie is a former college professor and co-lead instructor for Ontario Tech University’s Social Media Marketing and Digital Management Certificate. Whether you need a LinkedIn profile writer, corporate trainer, or AI marketing specialist, Leslie Hughes can help you elevate your digital presence and transform your marketing strategy. Ready to take your LinkedIn profile and corporate training to the next level? Learn more at www.punchmedia.ca.