You joined Facebook to see photos of your grandchildren. You wanted to stay connected with old friends and share updates about your life. But lately, you've noticed strangers sending friend requests. You're not sure who can see your posts. And you keep hearing scary stories about Facebook scams.
You're right to be cautious.
Facebook can be a wonderful tool for staying connected. But it also collects enormous amounts of information about you—information that scammers, advertisers, and even criminals want to access.
The good news? With a few simple privacy settings, you can enjoy Facebook safely while keeping your personal information protected.
Why Facebook Privacy Matters for Seniors
Think of Facebook like your home. You wouldn't leave your front door wide open with a sign showing everyone what valuables you own. But many seniors use Facebook with the digital equivalent of open doors and unlocked windows.
Here's what can happen with weak privacy settings:
Scammers find you. They look for seniors posting about grandchildren, travel plans, or daily routines. This information helps them craft convincing scams.
Your photos get shared without permission. Pictures of your grandchildren could end up anywhere on the internet.
Fake profiles clone your account. Scammers copy your photo and name to trick your friends.
Advertisers track everything. They build detailed profiles about your health, finances, and interests.
Criminals learn when you're away. Posting about vacation tells thieves your home is empty.
Understanding Facebook's Privacy Basics
Before we adjust your settings, let's understand three key concepts:
Public vs. Friends vs. Friends of Friends
- Public: Anyone on the internet can see it—not just Facebook users, but everyone
- Friends of Friends: Your friends AND everyone they're friends with
- Friends: Only people you've accepted as friends
- Only Me: Just you (good for saving things privately)
The golden rule: If you wouldn't shout it in a crowded restaurant, don't make it public on Facebook.
What Facebook Collects About You
Facebook tracks:
- Everything you post, like, comment on, or share
- Every photo you upload (Facebook uses facial recognition)
- Where you go (if location services are on)
- What you click outside of Facebook
- Information from apps connected to your account
- Personal details you share: birthday, hometown, employer
Step-by-Step: Securing Your Facebook Privacy
Step 1: Check Your Privacy Settings
On a computer:
- Click the down arrow in the top right corner
- Select "Settings & Privacy"
- Click "Privacy Checkup"
On the mobile app:
- Tap the three-line menu (hamburger icon)
- Scroll to "Settings & Privacy"
- Tap "Privacy Checkup"
Facebook will walk you through key privacy settings. Take your time with this—it's worth the 10 minutes.
Step 2: Control Who Sees Your Posts
Set your default audience:
- Go to Settings & Privacy → Settings
- Click "Posts" in the left menu
- Find "Who can see your future posts?"
- Select "Friends" (not "Public" or "Friends of friends")
For past posts:
- In the same Posts section
- Find "Limit Past Posts"
- Click "Limit" to change old public posts to Friends only
When posting: Before sharing anything, look for the audience selector (it says "Public" or "Friends"). Click it and choose who should see that specific post.
Step 3: Review Your Friends List
Remove strangers:
- Go to your profile
- Click "Friends"
- Look through your list carefully
- If you don't recognize someone, click "Friends" next to their name and select "Unfriend"
The 500 friends test: If you have hundreds of friends, you likely don't know them all. Consider removing anyone you wouldn't invite to dinner.
Step 4: Lock Down Your Profile Information
Control who sees your personal details:
- Go to Settings & Privacy → Settings
- Click "Profile and Tagging"
- Set "Who can see what others post on your profile?" to "Friends"
- Turn on "Review tags people add to your posts" (this lets you approve tags before they appear)
Hide sensitive information:
- Go to your profile
- Click "About"
- For each section (Work, Contact Info, etc.), click the pencil icon
- Set who can see it (consider "Only Me" for phone numbers and addresses)
Step 5: Turn Off Location Tagging
Why this matters: Posting your location tells people exactly where you are—or that you're not home.
To disable:
- When creating a post, look for "Check In" or location
- Don't add location to posts
- On your phone, turn off Facebook's location access:
- iPhone: Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Facebook → "Never"
- Android: Settings → Apps → Facebook → Permissions → Location → "Don't allow"
Recognizing Facebook Scams
Scammers love Facebook because it lets them reach millions of people. Here are common tricks to watch for:
Fake Friend Requests
The cloned profile: Someone creates a new account using your friend's photo and name. They send you a friend request (even though you're already friends with the real person). If you accept, they message you asking for money or send dangerous links.
How to spot it:
- Check if you're already friends with this person
- Look at their profile—fake accounts have few posts or photos
- Their username might have extra numbers or dots
What to do: Don't accept. Message your real friend through your existing connection to warn them.
"Too Good to Be True" Posts
You see a post promising: "Share this and win a free RV!" or "Comment 'AMEN' to receive $1,000!"
These are scams. No company gives away expensive prizes for sharing posts. These scams collect your information and that of everyone who comments.
Fake Celebrity Messages
A message appears from a famous person saying you've won something or they want to be friends. Real celebrities don't randomly message strangers.
"See Who Viewed Your Profile" Apps
Facebook never lets you see who viewed your profile. Apps promising this are scams that steal your information.
Quiz Scams
"What does your name mean in ancient Greek?" or "Which celebrity do you look like?" These quizzes collect personal information that can be used to guess your passwords or security questions.
Protecting Photos of Your Grandchildren
Grandparents naturally want to share photos of their grandchildren. But consider this:
Ask parents first. Some parents prefer their children's photos not be shared publicly.
Check your privacy settings. Make sure family photos are only visible to Friends, not Public.
Avoid identifying information. Don't post children's full names, birthdays, school names, or schedules.
Consider private sharing. Use Facebook's "Close Friends" list for family photos, or share privately through Messenger.
Red Flags: When to Be Suspicious
🚩 RED FLAGS – Warning Signs on Facebook:
- Friend requests from people already on your friends list
- Messages asking for money, even from "friends"
- Posts promising prizes for sharing or commenting
- Links that look strange (odd spelling, extra characters)
- Urgent messages claiming your account will be deleted
- Requests to download apps or games to "see something"
- Comments with suspicious links on your posts
- People asking you to move conversations to WhatsApp or email
What To Do If You've Been Scammed on Facebook
If you clicked a suspicious link:
- Change your Facebook password immediately
- Check if any posts were made without your knowledge
- Review apps connected to your account (Settings → Apps and Websites)
- Remove any apps you don't recognize
- Run antivirus software on your device
If a scammer contacted you:
- Don't respond
- Report the account to Facebook (click the three dots on their profile → "Report")
- Block them (click "Block" on their profile)
- Warn friends if the scammer is impersonating someone you know
If you lost money:
- Contact your bank immediately
- Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- File a police report
- Report to Facebook
Key Takeaways
📦 Key Takeaway Box:
✅ Set your default post audience to "Friends" not "Public." This is the single most important privacy setting.
✅ Review your friends list and remove strangers. If you don't know them in real life, they don't need access to your life.
✅ Never accept duplicate friend requests. Check if you're already friends first.
✅ Don't share posts promising prizes. These are scams collecting your information.
✅ Turn off location tagging. Don't tell the world when you're away from home.
✅ Ask before posting photos of grandchildren. And keep those photos private.
Facebook Can Be Safe—If You're Careful
Facebook offers wonderful ways to stay connected with family and friends. By taking a few minutes to adjust your privacy settings, you can enjoy those benefits while protecting yourself from scammers and privacy invasions.
Remember: You control what you share. When in doubt, keep it private. Your real friends will understand. The scammers won't get through.
Stay connected, but stay safe.
Next in This Series: Article 53 – How to Spot Fake Websites and Phishing Emails