Technology & Social Media Do you use your real name on facebook?

Discussion in 'Living Room' started by wylie, 13th Nov, 2017.

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  1. wylie

    wylie Moderator Staff Member

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    I'm not a huge facebook user, but did use it last year so our kids and close friends could follow us on our holiday.

    I had a few things happen recently that prompted me to change my name on FB. Someone changed all their mail to our house. (I reported to police, reached out to two companies asking if they would call this person and ask if he meant to do this, or may have had his ID stolen. The mail has stopped and I'll never know the story due to privacy issues.)

    I also was using FB marketplace but it can be like a swampland of dodgy people and no-shows, so I'm over that now. Also, I believe when someone messages me on marketplace, they can see my profile, my photos. I can certainly see their profile. That makes me feel a bit icky. I feel a little safer with local FB sales groups but realise I still need to be careful. If I do sell to someone, I get them to text my mobile, so that at least I have a mobile number.

    I don't really understand the privacy (even having watched and read tutorials - it is the friend of friend who can see things that bamboozles me a bit). I can easily get my son to tighten things up more than they are now, so that I can choose "friends" or "family" and put the people I really don't want to know my business into a separate group that I can ignore, without "unfriending" them.

    So, with an unusual spelling for my name, am I silly to have changed it? The name I've chosen looks dodgy (think Boo Boo or Mel Mel). I couldn't think of anything else at the time and just wanted my real name off facebook with the odd things happening.

    I've googled "is it safe to use my real name on facebook" and read up a little, and I know a few people who have one name for selling things, and another real name for family and friends. Is that a better idea?
     
    wylie, 13th Nov, 2017
    #1
  2. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    What's facebook? :rolleyes:
     
    Scott No Mates, 13th Nov, 2017
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  3. Kassy

    Kassy Well-Known Member

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    I went off Facebook years ago(had a fake name), I am also thinking of going back on to keep contact with people. I am in IT and I wouldn’t use my real name, age or address on the internet. I’m just too paranoid. So that would be my advice to you as well... make sure you also set up a fake email address with the same name to link to the fake Facebook...
     
    Kassy, 13th Nov, 2017
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  4. Simon Hampel

    Simon Hampel Founder Staff Member

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    Step 1. adjust your privacy settings in Facebook to hide your posts/photos from the public (friends only)
    Step 2. be selective in who you add as a friend on Facebook

    I'm astounded by what people post on social media in full public view. I use Facebook to keep in touch with family and friends - but I'm pretty careful about what I make public.
     
    Simon Hampel, 13th Nov, 2017
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  5. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    I use my real name. I didn’t actually realise that normal people chose fake names for Facebook. Is it a thing?

    I suggest tightening your privacy settings. However, I don't believe Facebook would have been the cause of mail going to your house - assuming you didn't post your address on it in public view?

    I don't have anything on Facebook that says too much about me. I treat it as if it was public - even if it isn’t.
     
    Joynz, 13th Nov, 2017
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  6. datto

    datto Well-Known Member

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    I believe FB does not allow false names and will delete your account.

    If you use a false name people can work out who you are. I believe they can obtain your IP address by chatting with you. They can then get your suburb and details of your ISP.

    If they then got a contact within the ISP they know who you are and other personal details.
     
    datto, 13th Nov, 2017
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  7. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

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    We check all tenant applicants on Facebook as a final check to ensure they're not doing anything unsavory. Quite often people use their middle name, an abbreviations or a nickname. I know how to find people :)
     
    D.T., 13th Nov, 2017
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  8. Kassy

    Kassy Well-Known Member

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    Yes, I used a knickname and will again. You still need friends and relatives to know who you are...
     
    Kassy, 13th Nov, 2017
    #8
  9. Kangabanga

    Kangabanga Well-Known Member

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    sell stuff on Gumtree or Ebay, thats where you will get the most views and better sale.

    FB wise, I use a fake nick on both my personal account and my "spam" facebook account for mobile games and such.You aint gonna find me unless I manually find you and add you ;D

    The internet is not secure at all and I prefer my privacy.
     
    Kangabanga, 13th Nov, 2017
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  10. Air_Bender

    Air_Bender Well-Known Member

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    I signed up to facebook many moons ago using my nickname (it's not Air_Bender ;)) and I still use it to this day. I wasn't too comfortable with randoms knowing my real name or work colleagues/bosses being able to look me up.

    I only have a select group of family and friends who can see what I post/share and I personally love the privacy features. Specifically the ability to select which of my friends/family can see a particular post and exclude the others.
     
    Air_Bender, 13th Nov, 2017
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  11. BarneyRubble

    BarneyRubble Well-Known Member

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    Have never used Facebook. Am sure most people realise, you are not a user of Facebook, you are the content. They use your content to market to you. I expect the business will be significantly changed in the next few years, probably in the first instance by the EU.

    It is a media company after all, and they will be forced to abide by media publishing standards.
     
    BarneyRubble, 13th Nov, 2017
    #11
  12. bunkai

    bunkai Well-Known Member

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    ah... Tinder ... those sorts of games... :cool::cool::cool:
     
    bunkai, 13th Nov, 2017
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  13. wylie

    wylie Moderator Staff Member

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    To be honest, I could delete it today and not miss it, and I have found selling on FB (local groups but not "marketplace") much better than eBay or Gumtree, but I'm just about over it. It is fun... until it isn't fun. ;)

    I think I'll leave my fake name up. There are many fake names, and if FB delete my account, that is okay.

    I don't put anything up except our trip photos last year, and for our next trip I'll make sure only our sons and their partners (and a select few good friends) can see what I post.

    If I'm bored, I'll take a little scroll and "share" things that interest me. That is only when there is nothing new on Property Chat to catch up on. :D

    I wonder if my family members share photos, or put up photos with me in them, who can see them, and if they can then link to my page?

    (And I didn't mean to link the change of address problem with facebook. I don't think they are related, but just that it made me aware that someone chose our address to get their mail sent to, and I've no idea why they chose me. I have no details at all on FB, not my DOB, suburb, school, work).

    I do find it a terrible waste of time for so many people, but not me, and really couldn't care much about it. I'd just as happily remove myself, but like being able to keep the kids in the loop while we travel.
     
    Last edited: 13th Nov, 2017
    wylie, 13th Nov, 2017
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  14. Xenia

    Xenia Well-Known Member

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    I am as visible and as out there that I can possibly be.
    I can google my name just to find out the latest thing I am doing
     
    Xenia, 13th Nov, 2017
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  15. wylie

    wylie Moderator Staff Member

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    LOL. I think we must be at opposite ends of the “look at me” spectrum :D:p

    I used to be fairly confident and happy to be the centre of attention but these days I like to slip under the radar.
     
    wylie, 13th Nov, 2017
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  16. MTR

    MTR Well-Known Member

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    Works for you:) its vital you are operating successful business
     
    MTR, 13th Nov, 2017
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  17. MWI

    MWI Well-Known Member

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    Hence why I am not on Facebook and probably never will be...no need for me!
     
    MWI, 14th Nov, 2017
    #17
  18. skater

    skater Well-Known Member

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    I use my real name & have heaps of 'friends' on Facebook, BUT they are all people that I have dealt with mainly through my skating years. Like @Simon Hampel, I'm pretty careful about what I put on there, and am constantly astounded by what some people make public.
     
    skater, 14th Nov, 2017
    #18
  19. larrylarry

    larrylarry Well-Known Member

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    What he said.
     
    larrylarry, 14th Nov, 2017
    #19
  20. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    I remember fondly my travels in my late teens and throughout my twenties.

    In those days when you went traveling, especially back packing, you really were 'off the grid'.

    No expectation that everyone would be constantly updated on Facebook as to ones whereabouts. (Perhaps an aero gram every few months and the odd call.)

    There was a huge freedom in that.
     
    Joynz, 14th Nov, 2017
    #20
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