Facebook = Change. That’s all there is to it. It seems like a little something changes every week, and unless you’re online at the right time to see someone mention it, you’ll never know when Facebook has changed its privacy settings, meaning you need to login to your account and check to be sure your preferences are still in place.

How to change Facebook Privacy Settings:

After you’ve logged in, look at the top-right of your screen for Account. Click the arrow beside it for a dropdown menu, then select Privacy Settings.
Now for the good stuff:

Connecting on Facebook

This one is pretty straight forward. Facebook is up-front about what everyone can see, and then lets you decide who sees the more detailed parts of your profile, such as your education, hometown, where you work, etc. You can also decide who is allowed to message you, send a friend request, or find you via search.

Sharing on Facebook

From profile information, to photos, allowing or disallowing people to post on your wall, or leave comments, this is the place to get creative. There are a couple built-in options, but I prefer to use the custom option and select individually the things I’d like to share, and with whom.

Apps and Websites

This area is for applications, games, and external websites you have given access to your account. Perhaps you entered a contest, or went and voted for a friend, and you allowed an application to access your account. Now it’s been three months and you’re still getting updates from this application and you want to get rid of it… Instead of just blocking the app, go to the privacy settings for your account and remove the application completely. These Facebook Privacy Settings are especially helpful if you’ve accidentally added something spammy or virus like and you need to remove it.

Block Lists

Tired of a certain person inviting you to every event in town? You can use these settings to block invites from a person, block a user entirely, or block invites to applications individually. You can also control what you’ve blocked so if you decide later you would like to play Farmville, but you’d previously blocked it, you can go here to un-block.

Controlling How You Share

This area is a very detailed and nicely illustrated explanation of all the privacy settings available. If you have additional questions, you’ll find the answers here!

How Private Are You on Facebook?

What are some of your most guarded settings? Is it your birthdate, or the school you went to? Maybe you’re careful with pictures of your kids. Are there settings Facebook does not have that you wish it did?

Discuss!