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Facebook Has Changed YOUR Email Address… Without Telling 900 Million Users

webfact

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webfact Grand Master Member

webfact

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Status update! Facebook has changed YOUR email address... without telling 900million users

By LOUISE BOYLE

If you haven't looked closely at your Facebook contact information in a while, then it may come as a surprise.

The social network with 900 million profiles, has taken it upon itself to change users' email addresses and replace it with one that ends in '@facebook.com'.

The changeover happened today, with each individual's personal email account being hidden in place of the one Facebook thinks you should use.

Secret switch: Facebook hid the email addresses of its 900 million users today and replaced them with a generic @facebook.com

It means that anyone who searches for you on Facebook and wanted to send an email will now only be able to see @facebook.com - unless you manually revert.

This means the email will come via Facebook messages instead of another account.

'Don’t do this again,' wrote Gizmodo while Forbes.com declared it 'presumptuous'.

HOW TO CHANGE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS BACK

1. Go into the 'About' section of your profile

2. Where the email address is displayed, click 'Edit'

3. Click on the circle along from the @facebook.com address

4. Change setting to 'hidden from timeline'

5. Click on circle next to other email address and choose 'shown on timeline'

6. Hit save at the bottom of the edit box

Facebook claimed the change is to protect users' privacy and security by not displaying a personal email address but the site's more generic one.

A spokesman said: 'As we announced back in April, we’ve been updating addresses on Facebook to make them consistent across our site.

'In addition to everyone receiving an address, we’re also rolling out a new setting that gives people the choice to decide which addresses they want to show on their timelines.'

It is not the first time Facebook has pulled a 'Big Brother' move on social network users.

Anyone who uses Facebook is already turning over reams of sensitive personal information to large companies every day.

There has been much criticism of Facebook's changeover to the Timeline profile - drawing complaints that it makes past activity more easily accessible.

The social network also launched a new feature this week which uses the GPS signal in cell phones to help you find friends - and potential new friends - nearby.

The 'Friendshake' feature will allow you to make friends with people who are close by. The time-saving feature means that, if you meet a group of new people, you can all use this for one-touch friendship, rather than manually finding out each person's name and separately adding them.

Some users may find this a boon to easily connect with new acquaintances, while others may see this as an invasion of privacy and way for unwanted people to get your attention.

However, the feature is currently one you have to manually turn on, by visiting http://www.fb.com/ffn - the last letters are an acronym for Find Friends Nearby.

When you enter the URL into your mobile browser, Facebook will provide a list of others who have visited the same page recently in the same area. A quick click will then add you as friends.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2164714/Facebook-changes-email-address-telling-users.html

-- Mail Online 2012-06-26

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EarthAlien Advanced Member

EarthAlien

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Not with mine either,.. closed it down 2 years ago after deleting all content.

FB = Plague of the Internet and Big Brother's best friend!

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AgentSmith Advanced Member

AgentSmith

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We all know by now Facebook brings privacy issues to lots of users but stop wining and get over it, or stop using it. I did the latter about a year ago and really, you CAN survive without. Just try it, unless you don't want to miss all the daily nonsense people put online these days. You can't really complain about a service from a commercial party that's free of charge now can you?

ripstanley Platinum Member

ripstanley

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Facebook is very dangerous. People post items on there they they would not want people to hnow. Media use it to track people of interest. Scammers love it as it gives them so much information. Police and any government agency will use it to locate and observe people.

Earthalien is very correct Big Brothers secret tool.

Fgis Silver Member

Fgis

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But if you do not show your Email to anyone FB didn't change this setting and none Email address is shown.

stronzza Newbie

stronzza

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Never had Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Spotify or any other social media waste of time program. Not surprised that FB has done this and not to mention other behind the scenes things that they have done with your personal information. Never saw the need to let folks that I might have had a conversation with 12 years ago, know that I was eating Doritos and watching football on the tube....

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Pib Star Member

Pib

Posted
Posted

We all know by now Facebook brings privacy issues to lots of users but stop wining and get over it, or stop using it. I did the latter about a year ago and really, you CAN survive without. Just try it, unless you don't want to miss all the daily nonsense people put online these days. You can't really complain about a service from a commercial party that's free of charge now can you?

I too can survive without a FB account...and I've never had one. I wonder if never having a FB account is a bad thing? Have I missed out on many wonders of the world or have I missed out on nothing? Just glad I didn't buy FB stock!

aussiebebe Gold Member

aussiebebe

Posted
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Never had Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Spotify or any other social media waste of time program. Not surprised that FB has done this and not to mention other behind the scenes things that they have done with your personal information. Never saw the need to let folks that I might have had a conversation with 12 years ago, know that I was eating Doritos and watching football on the tube....

yeah I know how you feel, that was me 6 months ago, never saw the point. In fact, before I opened my facebook account in January this year (2012) I'd never used any social networking sites, I just had my hotmail account.

I agree with you about people posting mundane rubbish but every technology can be misused; take TV; some people can use their tv to complete elements of a degree course, others watch porn, or even take pens; some people use them to complete their PhD thesis, others stick them up their noses. The way I use facebook is to keep in touch with friends and family, it's changed my life by connecting everything and saves time as everything syncs together, even Skype. Contrary to this news item, I remember being explicitly informed of the new facebook email address and I welcome it, it can really save time not having to check multiple email accounts.

IsaanUSA Gold Member

IsaanUSA

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Wait. Facebook HIDES your e-mail address and everyone gets mad? You people are so hard to make happy.

I can't tell by the news story if I should be upset or happy. I don't even know what a facebook email address is.

thrilled Gold Member

thrilled

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I'm not thrilled about FB.I've had friends just go and delete it.i will probably end up doing the same thing.

It don't do anything for me

pault17 Senior Member

pault17

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I'm not a big FB fan but it is the place where my children put their 'news' first.Also the place to look at the latest pictures of the grandchildren.

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