Social Networking - getting too much?

jibbajabba

It is hard to deny that most, if not all, are on sites like Twitter or Facebook. I dodged twitter so far but I am on Facebook.

All this social networking is starting to annoy me and I guess I am wondering if it is just me

Over the last year or two, wherever you go, you are asked to like this, follow that and share the lot.

As a result, the more friends you got (I for one only have friends on Facebook I actually know), the more you get bombarded with adverts, suggested posts or pages.

Especially if a friend 'liked' some random page offering free stuff for of doing so.

Just yesterday, 7 out of the last ten posts were suggested nonsense. On the phone they are usually almost full page.

I am now at the point where I say 'enough is enough'. Personally I think it is getting too much. People complain about agencies snooping around your details, yet they post all sorts of personal information publicly on social networking pages.

Back in the day you were worried about someone stealing your identity. Surely now it is easier than ever before.

Assuming someone fills out every little detail sites like Facebook asks you to, put all your details on LinkedIn, you are likely to be able to know everything about a certain individual.

Where that person is born, went to school, the whole resume, date of birth, relatives and the list goes on.

How can people be afraid of people stealing your details if you give them to the whole world willingly?

Mmmmm. What's the point of this post now you ask? I presume it's a little bit of a rant but I am more interested really if I am the only one who thinks that this is getting too much?

I already uninstalled twitter and Facebook and don't intend to go back (you can't even easily close your account).

How about you?

SteveLord

I just have Facebook. I get annoyed most by all the hoaxes people are easily duped by.

Master Of Puppets

You couldn't be more right! I completely agree. I have been thinking about this for a long time - these sites are a huge security vulnerability and most people don't even realize it. I am very passive with what I share on Facebook but I see people transferring their life on their walls. Using some social engineering and not that advanced computer skills, you could really do serious damage if you wanted to. Bad thing is, I have found, it is very hard to avoid using Facebook. It is the only way I can communicate with the people I need to. Everyone is using it non stop and it is convenient so although I don't want to, I find myself using it a lot too. It is the only way I can get in touch with all my colleagues from the university, arrange our Sunday football games with friends etc. In a way a lot of us have become dependent on it. There are good sides but I think we have to put more thought into how we use social networking. Also, at least for me, most things on Facebook are extremely annoying.

Snow.bros

I totally agree i also don't like social networks where everyone is snooping in your business if i am engaging in any social networking websites it should definitely be secured, i should know who i am communicating with and if i am communicating with a person it should be a one on one session unless i allow a group conversation myself. I am not participating in social networks like Facebook or twitter for those very same reasons.

It's good point that you brought up well done!!!!

mikedisd2

I hate FB and Twitter simply because it's constantly in your face everywhere. As for social media being out of control, when you have a site for moustaches, you know it's gone too far.

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sratakhin

I'm on Facebook but I use it like few times a year. Never used Twitter and don't want to. No TV, no news. If the world is going to end tomorrow, someone will tell me.

dave330i

I have a LinkedIn account because it's too useful career wise. Never bothered with Facebook or Twitter. I've got better things to do and lives of people I know (myself included) are not very interesting.

tpatt100

I don't have a real Facebook account I have a fake one for games I might want to try or for specials that require a "like" for a coupon lol.

Facebook lets me know how racist, stupid, ignorant my relatives are so I stay out of it.

wes allen

While there are real risks and downsides, social media can be a powerful tool in your life and career. Facebook lets me keep up with friends, and helped my photo biz quite a bit. Linkedin is kinda spammy and a low signal to noise ration, but it can be helpful to network for sure. If you have problems with twitter, then you are just not following the right people or have the right filters in place. These days it is one of my top sources for infosec news. I have G+ but don't use it much. Probably should though, lots of good info. Then you get to 2nd tier sites like 500px, flickr, ars, slashdot, and of course, here.

StephenOnTheGrid

real IT people dont facebook or waste time on social media. Its a waste of time in my opinion. I rather be learning and pushing myself to know more that i dont know. These sites are Fads and come in and go like myspace. If anything they are tools to dumb people down even more. Thats just my opinion. i guess i never really have time for sites that really dont have anything interesting.

sucka if you want knowledge you need to chase it. Thats my motto.

TheNewITGuy

I dont have a facebook

cyberguypr

What a broad statement. So based on your logic I'm not a real IT person because I use Facebook and Twitter? I use FB to keep in contact with my family who live outside of the US. Although I don't post much I use Twitter to follow multiple tech related stuff. It came real handy while I was at TechEd a few weeks ago to keep up to speed on last minute session changes and other things. Twitter has also given me access to well-know professionals that I may have never been able to get to answer an email. Doesn't interfere with my capability to learn, train, work, etc. Like all things, if done in excess it could definitely a time waster. Same applies to gaming and many other things.

The fact that I don't like something doesn't mean everyone else has to hate it or that it is an utterly big piece of garbage. Example: as much as I don't like Apple products I understand they have their market and I respect that. Can't say only real (insert whatever here) people use PCs.

jibbajabba

Sorry Wes but how is following 'the right people' good for my life and career? Friends - I have their other contact details such as mail and cell phone. I rather text or mail. Career? Don't get how that can help. Companies I am interested in don't advertise on twitter. LinkedIn maybe at a push.

As Stephen said - I.T. does not need it. In fact, you gotta be careful. Each company I worked for over the last few years did background checks and you can be certain that these social websites are the first stop for them. It might be as simple as a silly negative comment about a colleague or your company, you can be assured it can bite you in the neck.

A friend of mine is printer and yes, he needs twitter as potential clients following him and his work, but none of them check him out on Facebook.

Either way, if you love it. Stick with it. I for one don't care if people think I don't exist because I am not on Facebook (any more).

People I care about got my other details.

I think Facebook would be a nice place if it wouldn't be for the forced increasing adverts and continued battle against weak privacy.

SteveLord

I have family on the other side of the US and old military buddies. Really, it is the best way to keep in touch with everyone on a regular basis. My city uses Facebook to communicate with citizens about construction, events in the area, criminal activity and even do some Q&A. Seems great to me.

StephenOnTheGrid

Sorry it came off the wrong way. I am just speaking for myself. I dont social media because I dont have time for it. I consider it a complete waste of time. I am too effin busy with my college classes and certs to be posting on social media or installing the app on my Galaxy S4. If it works for you great. Keep in mind anything you post online will never be deleted . I like to have some sense of privacy in my life. Ive always moved towards the opposite direction when a mass of people go one way I'll go the otherway. I am ADHD like that.

Like Jibbajabba was saying it can be a negative reference involving your personal life online when an employer can easily google your name and voila you come up.

Kinet1c

Got rid of my facebook account, nothing productive ever came from it. Just asked over and over by people to give free tech support. Do use twitter which I find useful.

hoktauri

I love Facebook, that's where a lot of my business comes from and in general the FB page is the first customer contact. There are large parts of it designed to be wastes of time, you just need to avoid it. Also set everything to private and don't friend hundreds of people, don't be an idiot and you can use Facebook without any issues.

jibbajabba

I already have had it locked down as much as possible but like I said before, 7 out of 10 posts being adverts is just stupid and annoying and the main reason I left (well done Zuckerberg).

I mean seriously, do I need this nonsense full page on my smartphone (ironically I worked for them years ago)

jibbajabba

Oh and as it turns out, the only reason I got this probably is because a friend complaint in a comment that this is a nonsense advert and a big lie. Since the I am getting bombarded with all sorts of casinos, even Spanish ones where I don't even understand the advert.

Dakinggamer87

I have Facebook(family, friends), LinkedIn, and Twitter (rarely used). Social networking is getting crazy these days I try to keep it all in balance as some people I know go overboard on it.

Haswell

sratakhin wrote: »

I'm on Facebook but I use it like few times a year. Never used Twitter and don't want to. No TV, no news. If the world is going to end tomorrow, someone will tell me.

+1

I haven't used Facebook in almost 3 years, and I couldn't be happier. I was never into twitter. I only follow tech news, it's the only news that matters to me. I don't even go to yahoo anymore. There's just no need for me to go there anymore. I don't watch any TV as well. I just get all of my entertainment from Netflix; commercial free too.

StephenOnTheGrid

Haswell wrote: »

+1

I haven't used Facebook in almost 3 years, and I couldn't be happier. I was never into twitter. I only follow tech news, it's the only news that matters to me. I don't even go to yahoo anymore. There's just no need for me to go there anymore. I don't watch any TV as well. I just get all of my entertainment from Netflix; commercial free too.

haha I am glad I am not the only one.

boredgamelad

I've learned so much about infosec just by following the right people on Twitter. It's a great resource. I can understand not wanting to use it but saying it's useless or that "nobody in IT" uses it is just plain old myopia. As for potential employers tracking me down on Twitter? Highly unlikely.

kurosaki00

Dont see anything wrong with either. Its more about the content you put in and not the tool itself.
Facebook... share pics/messages/interest with friends
Twitter, share random info and maybe some ppl will find it interesting and will follow you up. Can be used to teach, share good information, challenge yourself and so on.

Dont put your real Dob, dont share your phone, dont subscribe to crap, block all invitations to annoying games, dont add random people, dont share sensitive information...
Youre left with a good tool.

StephenOnTheGrid

Hey whatever works to convince yourself.

Iristheangel

I am on a lot of the "normal" social media (G+, FB, Linkedin, etc). It was much easier to let everyone know I was engaged by changing a relationship status than to go through a contact list of over 300+ emails to find the ones that I see as personal friends and let them know. I don't care much if everyone views that as some huge security hole or if someone thinks I'm not a "real IT person" because I don't behave the way they do online. Technically, most of us can have our DOB, birthplace, school name, family members, etc found using simple social engineering or sites like publicdata.com, pipl.com, spokeo.com, etc. I'll use common sense and not post anything terribly private, use security controls, and not rant about my current employer online but I'm not going to sneak around the internet like some high-tech ninja because I'm paranoid

datacomboss

Kinet1c wrote: »

Just asked over and over by people to give free tech support.

I get bombarded with requests too. I only really use Linkedin with only occasional twitter and G+ use. Hate what Facebook has become.

kurosaki00

datacomboss wrote: »

I get bombarded with requests too. I only really use Linkedin with only occasional twitter and G+ use. Hate what Facebook has become.

I know you like computers
are you a hacker?
Can you get me the password for the msn/icq account of someone?


ah good ol days

coffeeluvr

Iristheangel wrote: »

I'll use common sense and not post anything terribly private, use security controls, and not rant about my current employer online but I'm not going to sneak around the internet like some high-tech ninja because I'm paranoid

I agree 100%!!! Iristheangel.....glad to see you are back posting great comments like this....

Iristheangel

Heh. Thanks. Sorry I've been AWOL for so long. Long roller-coaster ride for the last couple months

Master Of Puppets

kurosaki00 wrote: »

I know you like computers
are you a hacker?
Can you get me the password for the msn/icq account of someone?


ah good ol days

I'm really sick of this. I'm even starting to have the urge to beat people up Also, you may not be but I am quite paranoid