- December 14, 2009
- 11 Comments
- Social Media & Tech
Facebook, Google and Indexing — Because I Love You
A tweet on Twitter lead me to browse Facebook… and I noticed a number of my friends’ statusii,
If you don’t know, as of today, Facebook will automatically index all your info on Google, which allows everyone to view it. To change this option, go to Settings –> Privacy Settings –> Search –> then UN-CLICK the box that says ‘Allow indexing’. Facebook kept this one quiet. Copy and paste onto your status for all your friends.
My first thought was, “Oh dear!” But my second thought was, “Wait. I have privacy settings in place. Facebook can’t allow indexing on info I have made private. Right?”
So I did one of those long-string searches — “Can Facebook allow yadda, yadda, yada… and whatnot, blah, blah, blah….”
The interwebs just stood there. Blinking.
Just as I thought.
I logged in and out of my account. Checked the box. Unchecked the box and whathaveyou. Testing my theory. I am aware Google is indexing me, BUT she is only getting as much information as I permit. This is what my Facebook profile looks like to the searching masses with the settings I have decided are acceptable to me:
I allow my groups to be seen, cuz I that is what I have decided I think is just fine… I also allow my friends to be seen. I feel it helps people know if I am A Jenny or THE Jenny. Guilty by association and whatnot. Besides, I want to be found. I’m on Facebook. I want to have friends. I also want to complain about pestering paparazzi someday. *tosses locks* Sue me.
And of course we ALLLLLL know I am THE Jenny, right?
I digress.
Then I went and followed the directions of the several friend’sesses statussesii re: the Google indexing. Say THAT 5 times fast. I unchecked the indexing box. This is what happened when I searched myself:
What? No Jenny? That will make so many people sad. HOWEVER! If this is what you want, GREAT! It’s your choice to make, but this has been possible for years. But for some reason, it’s all the rage… tonight.
And then I noticed a little note from Facebook at the top of my settings >> privacy settings page:
AHA! I thought so! I recall way back “in the day” having the option to make my profile not available for public search inquiries. I decided I wanted to be out there… just a little. I kinda like the fact that people can find me… but are left wanting.
*makes tiger claws*
I will assume most of you know this. About Facebook and indexing, not my “makes tiger claws” thing… But in case there are a few who missed it somehow… I am here to comfort you:
>>>If you have been choosing the your privacy settings wisely, you should be found or not found according to what you have already established. No Facebook/Google indexing magic has happened overnight. I do, however, encourage you to double-check you security settings. Especially your pictures. Did you know each album has it’s own privacy setting? It’s true.
Speaking of fame, have you visited my Facebook fan page? Click HEEEEEEEERE. And join. If you’re smart. *wink*
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11 Responses to “Facebook, Google and Indexing — Because I Love You”
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Hey, thanks for the tutorial! Very informative. I’m with you – want people to find me but don’t need the whole world to see the details up front.
How fun… hehe
I just want to make sure that The Jenny does not no where I live. That’s all.
I also want one more thing. I want to know if she is gud at spelling and recognizes the misuse of the word “no” instead of “know.” See previous comment if yur confused.
Ironically, I shared this link on FB…Thank you so much for being in the know(??voice of authority)on all this tech stuff and sharing. I, too, (yearn for)patiently await the day I must graciously indulge papparazzi. But, I feel too intimidated by all this trackbacking, feeding, linking, indexing & security settings. I look to you, THE Jenny, for guidance. And, hey, could you fill in for my HTML teacher over at the community college? She’s spewing out info, but it’s just not falling in line for me and it this rate, I’ll never be a fabulous, glittery Blogger like you!!!
THANK YOU for clarifying this terrifying issue. Yes. There is only one Jenny. And she MUST be found. As must I. *tiger claws* aaaand OUT!
I joined. Because I’m your groupie.
I also re-posted that message (and un-checked myself) because (not that I’m necessarily doubting what you are saying, BUT) over the weekend, when all the changes happened (new privacy settings & such), I happened to NOT want to deal with it at the moment. So I left that initial pop-up page as it came up (without reading it in detail) and clicked “save for now”. Thinking, of course, that the default settings on that pop-up, “choose your settings” thingie would automatically be set to my previous privacy settings. Not true. I later asked my BF to search me without being signed in. When he did, you could see EVERY single thing I had ever put on FB — pics, notes, videos, EVERYTHING. As someone who has been a high school teacher & who currently works with mentally ill children & teens, I CAN’T have my page out there for all the world to see… So I worked for almost 2 hrs trying to re-set everything as it was before — to “only friends”. It’s worked okay, but needless to say I am much annoyed at the FB gods at the moment
However, I think that rant made me feel a little better!
Thanks for the info =) did some googling and my oh my . . .
http://www.kawaiithemes.com/2009/04/21/sports-unlimited-wordpress-theme/