Facebook Account Deleted?

The other day a friend on Facebook had their account totally deleted. He was actively using his account and had hundred of friends. There have been reports that your FB account can get randomly deleted, but this is usually done on SPAM activity. He discovered the reason for deletion is most likely due to not cleaning out your inbox of messages or sending out too many friend requests. They do not give specific details of why his profile was deleted but they did make one thing clear that the decision is final and you can not appeal.

Have you ever had your Facebook account deleted? What was the reason you were given?

Why Is Facebook So Huge?

Are you a Facebook addict? Are you constantly checking your Facebook status on your phone? Did you give up watching TV to devote time to Facebooking? If you are one of the millions of Facebook elite, then you may be able to answer this question, “Why is Facebook so huge?” I started asking this question to almost everyone I know and below are the common responses.

Why is Facebook So Huge?

• Easy to use
• Fun place to hang-out
• Use as picture collection
• Ability to reconnect with old friends

Why do you think Facebook is so popular? Can you add any more reasons?
Facebook mentions on Leading Hands

8 Tips To Protect Your Facebook Profile

PC Magazine recently released eight tips to protect your Facebook profile.

1. Know Your Terms
2. Set Controls for Your Updates
3. Hide Your Facebook Profile from Google
4. Disable Facebooks “Instant Personalization”.
5. Prevent People from Tagging You in Photos
6. Set Privacy for Every Album
7. Hide Your Contact Info
8. Delete Facebook Apps

Read the complete article
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2363178,00.asp

URL Shortener Bake-off

What’s the best URL (web link) Shortener? Here at Leading Hands we put the top URL Shortener’s to test with a little bake-off. We asked the question, “Are you ready for a throw-down?”, just like Bobby Flay.

If you are wondering, “Why should I use a URL Shortener? What are the advantages and disadvantages?” The advantage of shortening a long URL, like from Google Maps, is that it’s easier to send to a friend. Another advantage is that most shorteners let you track clicks. The biggest disadvantage is that many short URLS are tagged as SPAM, so be careful how you use them.

Bit.ly – This site was picked by Twitter as the URL shortener of choice a few months back. It’s solid and enables tracking on clicks. You do need to register for an account. There is a pro version available which I have never tried.
http://bit.ly/

BudURL – This free site is latest in shortening technology. I like this shortener because it tracks clicks. Sign-up required for full functionality. There is a pro version available which I have never tried.
http://budurl.com/

Facebook URL Shortener – Facebook created their own service. You have to be logged into Facebook to use it. It works well, but I didn’t see any tracking.
http://fb.me/

Google URL Shortener – Need a Google Account to use it. Stable and Secure are good qualities of this service. Tracking on clicks is available.
http://goo.gl/

TinyURL – This site is the original URL Shortener. It’s free to use and shortens URLS without sign-up.
http://tinyurl.com/

Youtu.be – This service is brought to you by YouTube. It works, but you have to be logged into an account to make it work.
Youtu.be

Do you have any URL (web link) Shorteners to add?

New Facebook Features

If you didn’t notice, Facebook once again mixed up their interface. Basically the top and left menu bars were simplified and condensed which may cause you strife to find everything right away.

Do you like this new layout or are you wishing you had a choice of the old one?

http://www.facebook.com/sitetour/homepage.php

Classifications of Facebookers

CNN recently did a classifications of the most annoying  Facebookers. Can you relate to any of these listed here? Do you have any to add?

1. The Let-Me-Tell-You-Every-Detail-of-My-Day Bore.  – tell me more?
2. The Self-Promoter. – every link to your blog (I am guilty of this one)
3. The Friend-Padder. – 1000 friends?
4. The Town Crier. – I can’t take who just died.
5. The TMIer. – too much info
6. The Bad Grammarian – I can’t spell
7. The Sympathy-Baiter. – too much bad news
8. The Lurker. – not much participation but they know alot about you
9. The Crank. – complainers
10. The Paparazzo. – constantly tagging posting photos
11. The Obscurist. – not clear updates
12. The Chronic Inviter. – constantly sending out group invites

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/08/20/annoying.facebook.updaters/index.html

Non-Tweet Section Please!

The other day, Disney pop starlet Miley Cyrus decided to quit Twitter cold turkey. Similarly in a recent interview with Drew Barrymore about her directorial debut Whip It, she responded that she is a Non-Tweeter. It started me to think, what if in the future Tweeting was banned from public places just like smoking? Can you have second-hand Tweets like second-hand smoke? Can Tweeting be as addictive as nicotine? Do these constant micro-blogging alerts cause health effects?

Imagine the following scenario ten years from now. You walk into a restaurant, the hostess asks you, “Would you prefer the Tweeting or Non-Tweeting section?” If a customer sits in the Non-Tweeting section and they are caught Tweeting, the establishment and other patrons will have reason to ask the Tweeter to leave. At this time as a society, we truly don’t know the side-effects of Twitter to our health, could it be detrimental?

Do you think there should be a special section in bars and restaurants for Twittering, Facebooking, etc…?

Staying Safe and Private On Facebook

Tori Woods sent me a note that said, “I thought you might be interested in this great article about Facebook safety– it ties into Leading Hands. It’s a step-by-step (therefore very useful) guide.” Below find the five points, but follow the link below to the step-by-step instructions of staying safe on the social networking leader.

5 Tips to Stay Safe on Facebook

1. Make Friend Lists – categorize your friends into various groups
2. Who Can See Your Profile – limit who can see your profile
3. Who Can See Your Phone Number – limit who can see your phone number
4. Who Can Find You On Facebook Search – limit who can search for you
5. Don’t Connect to Unknown Applications – take control of the info you’re sharing on those quizzes

http://www.readwriteweb.com

Do You Own Your Life On Facebook?

Facebook is now a cultural phenomenon and the world now posts their lives online for the world to see. Videos of your kids playing, class reunions, first wedding dances and countless memories that are truly special. However have stopped to think about who owns your information? Do you care if Facebook decides to sell your photos, videos and updates one day? If they do, are you thinking you’ll be the next reality star?

The truth is that last year Facebook changed their privacy rules saying they owned all the content being posted on their site. However, they instantly switched back their terms and conditions after thousands of users were outraged. Why couldn’t they switch it back again? I personally have been reluctant posting family images on my profile. If I do post, they are only of me. Twitter just released new terms of conditions and listed you own your content, but they could just as easily reverse their decision tomorrow.

With the rise of shows like iCarly and Web Soup, Internet video clips are becoming staples of TV programming. Internet clips are diamonds in the rough. These clips which are now being shot on mobile devices are cheap, quick and easy. You do not own your content on social media sites and all together online. Your personal memories will be broadcast without your consent so be careful what images and videos you post on your sites. Even if you lock it down now, who knows what will happen in the future. Your digital foot print is sacred.

Oh No! Your Parents Just Joined Facebook?

The other day I heard a few talk show hosts insinuating that Facebook has “Jumped The Shark“. I then saw on Doug Craver’s TechBytes and on a few Twitter feeds the website My Parents Joined Facebook referenced. The website insinuates that youth can no longer post everything happening in their lives on Facebook because now their parents will find out about it.

For example, a college student kept asking her father for money to pay for rising book fees. However after dad joined Facebook, became friends with their kid and started reading about her excessive partying, the money was cut off. Then the student “Unfriended” their dad so he couldn’t read her updates any longer. The reality is this trend is rising everyday and this new website, My Parents Joined Facebook says, “this is your chance to get back at them for taking away your public privacy.” The idea is to share the embarrassing messages parents are writing on your Facebook wall in order to fight back.

The reality is everyone should realize that whatever you write as your status, on your wall, or any picture you upload is permanent record online. Even if you delete your account or remove the information later, a search engine, the site hosting the material or another user will be retaining your information. Be careful out there in Internet land!

http://myparentsjoinedfacebook.com/