Facebook…..What’s on your mind.

Facebook has 2.85 billion users workdwide. Clearly they are not as concerned as yourself.

I don't really understand why you find "What's on your mind?" sinister. Seems like a perfectly reasonable question to me.

I've been a member for 14 years, ever since my 2 daughters emcouraged me to join. Since then, I have been reunited with two schoolfriends, one from Primary school and one from senior school. I have also, randomly, made friends with people in Canada, India and Australia. None of that would have happened without FB.

Like all social media (and indeed "things internet") it has its negatives (what in life doesn't), but it has many positives too.

My son introduced me to FB a few years ago. Since then I have caught up with school friends, Uni pals, neighbours from 50+ years ago. Today, I learned that one of my dear friends is in Hospital - sent her my love and best wishes. I love FB

Sago
No I don't think you are being unreasonable although I do accept that people get a lot of pleasure from it.
Like you I joined because the leader of a club I joined was on it and communicated information using it.
I was shocked to find a long list of a friends relatives had appeared on it apparently wanting to be my friend. Not that I knew them or they knew me.
I haven't been on it since but it doesn't seem to want me to unsubscribe.
As I said though, that's just me. I know a lot of people get a lot of enjoyment from it.

I think what’s on your mind is just a way of saying what do you want to talk about, nothing sinister at all.

It’s just an invitation to post something, nothing sinister.

Rosiecat

Sago
No I don't think you are being unreasonable although I do accept that people get a lot of pleasure from it.
Like you I joined because the leader of a club I joined was on it and communicated information using it.
I was shocked to find a long list of a friends relatives had appeared on it apparently wanting to be my friend. Not that I knew them or they knew me.
I haven't been on it since but it doesn't seem to want me to unsubscribe.
As I said though, that's just me. I know a lot of people get a lot of enjoyment from it.

That long list of people that you could befriend (if you wanted to) is generated automatically by Facebook. They haven't individually decided that they want you to be their bestie, and they don't know that their photos have appeared on your screen. Just either ignore them or delete them. I imagine that those who collect friends like some people collect stamps or china animals will select all of them, so that they can boast of their 692 online friends, but you don't have to.

How much you post is completely up to you. But whatever you post, assume that the whole world can see it. I therefore post very little. If someone wants to post what they had for breakfast that is up to them I find it useful to find out what is going on in the village.

It can be very useful and I am a member of several interesting groups, but always think before I post anything.

What's on your mind?

Dangerous question

I'm likely to answer it with the truth

FB was a godsend when DD2 was working and travelling around the world and we could get in touch anytime of day.
I have a handful of dear friends who don’t live locally with whom I can stay in touch with. A perfect solution to share our thoughts, friendship and support for each other. Other than that, my account is private.

I’ve ceased noticing the phrase.

I joined Facebook when COVID struck. It serves a purpose. It enables me to keep up with various interest groups. My friends on facebook are not, on the whole people who spread their personal lives all over it. mainly it consists of comments on everyday life, items on the news - in fact a bit like GN.

I’ve been on FB for yonks. Initially it was to keep in touch with colleagues as we were all working on projects in several different countries. Then family started to join it and it was a useful way to keep in touch. I ran a support group for a disability charity for many years. It’s been very useful, I don’t hook up with or share personal info with people I don’t know l. No problems.

Facebook…..What’s on your mind

Not a lot 😀

And - as a wise friend used to say "Just because you're asked a personal question, it doesn't mean you have to answer".

I signed up to Facebook many moons ago at the family's behest but don't enjoy using it for various reasons and rarely do so, it serves a purpose for some who do appreciate it. People tend to forget that GN is a public forum for anyone to read even if they do not join and participate

Amazing I ve been on FB years and years probably 12/14 or more and never noticed the what’s on your mind before😂
Is it me being unobservant or has it been a recent edition ?
I get such a lot out of Fb and made friends, found things to do go to, buy and sell, watch local weather and what’s on, joined groups, found people never ever had a problem I keep my privacy settings how I want them and all is good

I have to be very careful on Facebook. My son follows me and is very quick to tell me that something I posted is unsuitable. Im afraid to unfriend him in case he's upset. If he ever read gransnet he'd have a fit.

I had this problem on GN many years ago (but my follower was not DS). I signed out and a few months later came back under a different name.

Jackiest

How much you post is completely up to you. But whatever you post, assume that the whole world can see it. I therefore post very little. If someone wants to post what they had for breakfast that is up to them I find it useful to find out what is going on in the village.

No, the whole world can’t see what you post if you pay attention to your settings. Like most of social media, the onus is on you to control your experience to suit.

argymargy

Jackiest

How much you post is completely up to you. But whatever you post, assume that the whole world can see it. I therefore post very little. If someone wants to post what they had for breakfast that is up to them I find it useful to find out what is going on in the village.

No, the whole world can’t see what you post if you pay attention to your settings. Like most of social media, the onus is on you to control your experience to suit.

Exactly!
In fact GN is a far more public forum. Our comments here can be read by anyone and I am often astonished at how much information people give away.
It is often possible to see pictures of family members, of their houses and sometimes themselves. It can be possible to work out where they live, who their children are etc.
At least FB has privacy settings.

I don't think that's what was meant

Anything you post online has the potential for the whole world to see it

It only takes one screenshot

Agree with dragonfly. We need to be very careful that we can’t be identified on here. I feel relatively safe because of where I live but it is still something not to be taken lightly. Facebook is actually safer than this so long as you set the privacy settings.

Would you any of you prefer or feel safer if GN was a closed forum?

Questions on here can be far more personal than ‘what’s on your mind’ and can then be seen by the whole world whereas nobody can see you on Facebook if that is what you want.

I sometimes think that there are members of Gransnet that don’t think they are on social media, when in fact they are on the worst kind where you cannot control your privacy settings.