A Facebook Skeptic? News Flash: You Are in Control

Okay, I get it: Facebook is not for everybody. I hear complaints all the time about privacy settings. I also frequently hear the groans from people who have never tried Facebook or get pushback from church leaders, older folks, and parents who are concerned that social media are killing the brain cells of our young people and not allowing them to connect intimately.

The New York Times recently ran an article highlighting Facebook's plans to expand its membership beyond its current 800 million active users through its much-anticipated public offering (which I will not participate in). "Shunning Facebook, and Living to Tell About It" quotes Facebook resisters saying things like, "I wasn't calling my friends anymore," and my personal favorite, "I don't want all of my information out there."

My response: Call your friends, and don't put all of your information out there. The article presents several of the concerns addressed in this article. At the core, however, it also reveals some "shunners" want the benefits but are paralyzed from taking the plunge to join Facebook. One resister actually said, "If I have a crush on a guy, I'll make my friends look him up for me [on Facebook]." Clearly, she understands at least one benefit of using the site.

After responsibly using Facebook for several years, I don't quite understand the resistance. (I should probably add that I do not play any of the Facebook games or participate in third-party features.) It's as if some think of Facebook as a thief that comes in to steal all of your personal information and then sell it to the highest bidder. Facebook can "see" only the information that you provide, and you can set your own privacy settings to determine what to share and with whom you share ...