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Facebook…..What’s on your mind.

(31 Posts)
Sago Wed 30-Nov-22 13:15:04

I have reluctantly joined Facebook as I needed access to find community pages for a work project.
FB has never appealed to me, I get so frustrated when companies don’t have a website just a Facebook page, I have a daughter that probably spends too much time on it and 2 sons who are not interested.

What I find a little sinister is the “What’s on your mind” on the opening page.
Why not a Good Morning or How’s your day?

AIBU?

Witzend Sat 03-Dec-22 11:43:05

I only signed up to it years ago after a dd - expecting first baby - said she’d be posting pics there.
It wasn’t too long before she was using WhatsApp instead, which I infinitely prefer - especially since you can use it to phone for free!

I did ‘friend’ some old acquaintances from way back, now on the other side of the world, but FB posts were all too often shared super daft ones, e,g something like, ‘I saw this cloud today - it looked just like my Grandma - I’m sure it was her telling me she’s up there…’.

Hence I hardly bother with any of it now - just the very occasional post from relatives I rarely see.

snowberryZ Fri 02-Dec-22 13:03:49

toscalily

It was not a comment it was a question so why is it silly? (that also is a question?)

A bit off topic, but what is it with older women calling other women 'silly'? I never hear younger women using the word.
Its often said as a putdown against younger women. "He'll soon tire of her, she's just a silly young girl" is a popular one.

I think using that word shows your age. And I say that as a fellow Oldie.

Mollygo Fri 02-Dec-22 12:29:47

Though I mainly use WhatsApp, I like FB for keeping up to date with friends’ news and specific groups, e.g. local news about traffic issues. My privacy settings are very limiting. But if you post something text or pictures, even in a members only group and someone screen shots it, it can go anywhere.

toscalily Fri 02-Dec-22 12:05:51

It was not a comment it was a question so why is it silly? (that also is a question?)

nanna8 Thu 01-Dec-22 12:20:54

toscalily

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

Now that is a silly comment if ever there was one when people are trying to be helpful.

Theexwife Thu 01-Dec-22 11:44:45

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.

toscalily Thu 01-Dec-22 10:51:40

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

nanna8 Thu 01-Dec-22 08:06:38

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.

VioletSky Thu 01-Dec-22 07:49:35

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

dragonfly46 Thu 01-Dec-22 07:42:02

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.

argymargy Thu 01-Dec-22 07:19:27

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.

M0nica Thu 01-Dec-22 07:11:20

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.

kircubbin2000 Wed 30-Nov-22 18:46:02

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.

BlueBelle Wed 30-Nov-22 18:00:46

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

toscalily Wed 30-Nov-22 17:49:30

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

Callistemon21 Wed 30-Nov-22 17:41:32

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".

Blossoming Wed 30-Nov-22 17:28:53

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.

M0nica Wed 30-Nov-22 17:22:15

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.

Jaxjacky Wed 30-Nov-22 16:18:58

I’ve ceased noticing the phrase.

Kalu Wed 30-Nov-22 16:10:47

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.

VioletSky Wed 30-Nov-22 15:57:33

What's on your mind?

Dangerous question

I'm likely to answer it with the truth

Desdemona Wed 30-Nov-22 15:53:48

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

Jackiest Wed 30-Nov-22 15:45:07

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.

Elegran Wed 30-Nov-22 15:39:59

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.

Patsy70 Wed 30-Nov-22 15:15:51

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