How to ACTUALLY Check Your Facebook Privacy Settings

 

Social media in terms of privacy can feel like a total betrayal of trust at times.  You want to take part, but it just seems like you have to stay one step ahead of the game to get anything out of it.  By now, you've probably read an article or two about the dangers of Facebook and all the privacy policy changes from this past year.  As someone who uses Facebook for their day job, I even have trouble keeping up with all the privacy changes. So the following list is my most up-to-date privacy proofing systemt that's much simpler than going through every single setting and every past post/picture.  NOTE:  The results may scare you, but it's always better late than never to protect your privacy!  This doesn't mean you have to take everything down from your profile, but it's to actually know what others can see on your profile publicly, since Facebook's preview option no longer exists. (Jerks!)

1.  Create a Facebook Page & Switch Users

Go to Facebook.com and click "Create a Page" on the bottom right-hand side. It can be for anything you want: your car, your blowdryer, your pet, your blog, your small business, whatever! You may actually find fan pages useful on Facebook, but for right now, you're simply making this to preview your public profile.  You can use one you've already made as long as you have administrative privileges. The page wizard is actually pretty helpful at setting up all the details of your page, but for the purposes of this, just type in gibberish and skip whatever possible.  Once your page is set up, look to the top right hand blue bar and click the gear icon for a drop-down menu and click on your new page to switch the user. Your are now acting on Facebook as your fan page. Everything should now look different from your home page to your profile.

Now, type your name in the search bar. Find your profile and click on it. This is what ALL public Facebook users can see. At first, you may be relieved that your timeline and 1,999+ photos are hidden, but no so fast! Click on your profile photo and click through your albums tab, about tab, etc. Before my updates, the public could see my past 3 profile pictures at full size, all of the comments on it, every single cover photo, and videos. It's funny how these things are so much easier to miss without actually previewing your profile! It's pretty awful how Facebook changed all these default options, but hey, it can be fixed.  So, click through everything and take note of anything you want taken off your public profile and switch back from the users on the top. The following steps should relieve all of your privacy worries...for this hot second on Facebook at least.

2. The Quick Fixes

Before you have a meltdown and delete your account, the following fixes in Facebook Privacy settings will make a huge impact in a small dose:

-On the main privacy page, click on "Who can look me up?" and edit it to "Only Friends". You may prefer not to hide yourself from the search feature all the time, but this is useful when undergoing a privacy makeover. This just makes it about 5 times harder for coworkers, frenemies, fake profiles, etc. to find you- especially while your profile is vulnerable privacy-wise.

-Delete any controversial cover photos.  These things may have been a real selling point for Timeline, but there's a twist! They're public! Every. Single. One. Available for anyone to click through. Scenic photos or patterns, obviously aren't anything to worry about, but whichever ones you're not comfortable being public, you have to delete all together to have any sort of privacy.

-Edit privacy settings for all photo albums. On your own profile, click on photos, then albums.  Scroll over the gear icon under each album to review the privacy settings for each. This is where your notes from the preview come in handy! It's easy to miss these pesky privacy settings since there are so many photos usually on a profile.  So switch users back and forth from your page to your account to make sure all the unintended public albums are hidden. Facebook posts, check-in's, and statuses all work the same way where you need to change it one by one as they come.

-Profile Pictures now DEFAULT to "public" settings. To change this (i.e. so people can't pull up your profile picture at full size or view comments) you have to click on the gear icon for every photo since the timeline change.  For me, it was three profile pictures, for you it may be a lot more than that. Double check by switching users with your page as many times as you need to.

3. Preventing Privacy Issues in the Future

-In the Facebook Privacy settings, click on "Timeline & Tagging" to the left. There you can turn on or off settings for mandatory review when your friends tag you in photos, statuses, posts, etc. It may seem like overkill but hey if if prevents a Facebook hack or an unflattering picture from getting to your timeline, you'll find it's worth its weight in gold.

-Set up friends lists. Facebook's new "smart lists" bring privacy settings to a new level. Lists like "close friends" and "aquaintances" not only help with privacy but also with relevancy of your posts. Again, it's a feature that may seem like overkill, but since people can't see these lists, it's become really useful in guarding certain pieces of information.  Adding someone to your aquaintance list is the new "unfriend", in my opinion. You can also unsubscribe from people's abnoxious posts right from your news feed using the dropdown arrow to the right, but that's a side topic!

Hope I helped someone with this discovery!








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The Week I Caught Up On My Online Shopping

Obviously the Accessories are what I'm Most Excited For...

 This rhinestone, crystal, and chain link confection better be half as cute as it looks online.  It should go well over shift dresses and boatneck tops.

I went with a budget version of this necklace, so hopefully it works. Collar necklaces are really versatile this season.

A Gift for my Mom..

Mango Cat-Eye Sunglasses

The Business-Related Purchases

By Joy Cho

Upgraded my Cargo Collective account so I can finally set up some Google Analytics for it!

Shoe Therapy: The Cure to a Long Day

I hope you all like my new look.  I haven't been posting as often with my new job, as you may know, but as with everything, it gets boring. So, I just gave my blog a much-needed 5 minute refresher to its look and decided to write about the only thing that never fails to make me happy: shoes. Down to business, the top five pairs of shoes I wish were in my closet this month.

To wear to a friend's wedding

Gianni Bini Jeanna Platform Heels

To Feel Sassy at Work

Tony Bianco Black Strappy Heels

 

The Shoes Everyone Would Notice 

Badgely Mishka

 

The Vintage Style

Rachel Roy

 

The Absolute Splurge

Christian Louboutin

Event Calendar Design

Oh the Joys of having to design a calendar of any kind.  It's something all graphic and web designers MUST do for all sorts of clients, but why do they just always want to come out so..blahh?  This week at work has been slow, so I took an hour to dig for the best and brightest ideas for inspiration for our magazine's upcoming events calendar.  I decided print event calendars are definitely the hardest to pull off, but let's just take a moment to drool over these print/life calendar masterpieces.

Click on any of the items in my collection to see source and more information on them. 

Stacy and Clinton's Cost-Per-Wear Theory

Of all my fashion shows, "What Not to Wear" is one of my most consistent favorites. Stacy London and Clinton Kelly's infamously quirky program brings fashion back to what it's intended for in the first place, REAL PEOPLE.  In honor of my new job, I'd like to praise pair's the "Cost-Per-Wear" theory and what it means to me.

Here are the problems: I've always loved to go shopping, to a fault, but my current wardrobe plain and simple wasn't built for an office. So my brain quickly does the math that I need a TON of new clothes and my bank account has a decent amount more money in it. All lights say go, TIME TO SHOP!!!  But thankfully, the Learning Channel's re-run's have made me think twice and plan ahead.

Checking Out the Place

Of course with any new job or interview, you want to put your best foot forward, so you do need two-three standard business professional looks in the back of your closet regardless of your work situation. However, every office culture is different, so I made sure to check mine out first before I hit the mall.  Usually the definers are the age of your coworkers and how often clients come in.  At my internship 2 years ago, I noticed about 4-6 people wear jeans every day to a 30-person office, so I wore my dark jeans most days. Mistake! Not that I saw any specific hindrances to my work, but Stacy and Clinton remind us always: Dress for the job you want, not the job you have! Besides, I admit it does feel better to be overdressed constantly than to be underdressed even once. Yes, this means more money, but that's where the budget-crunching theory comes in.

Quantity Vs. Quality

Late Free Printable Friday: Birthday Card

We didn't forget! 

Right click on the image below (and after the jump) to view at full size.

Kate Spade NY-Leading the Creative Marketing Pack

I consider myself a huge Kate Spade fan.  My first knock off purse I bought in New York at 11 was a teeny denim "Kate Spade" shoulder bag with a coordinating multicolor striped wallet. The past year I've lusted for their sunglasses, "sparkler" clutches, bowler-style bags, their sea foam patent leather wallet, rain drop print laptop case, and every single purse they make with chain-detail straps. I seriously love it, but I can only pretend to own such items on my Pinterest boards at my current income level :)  Still, what I adore almost as much as the products themselves is their graphic design and marketing strategies.  I firmly believe this company is on the top of the technology wave through their use of social media, graphic design, and advertising strategies.  A lot of brands should really take note. 

Interactive Advertising Strategies

I'm no advertising major, but it's easy to see that Kate Spade harnesses current technology and uses it to creatively promote their products instead of alternatively cowering away from it and relying on the weight of their name alone like some of their counterparts.

Pinterest Finds: Classic Magazine Covers

If there's ever one thing I collect obsessively, it would be magazines, old and new. It may take me a grand total of 20 minutes to get through one, but I think it's the little graphic designer that reveres all magazines as books of art.  They're also a fun thing to ask people to bring back for you when they travel abroad.  It's always fun to gush over every little clever design choice made.  So until I make my fortune and purchase and frame every vintage/classic magazine cover I see, my Pinterest hoard will have to hold me over for now.
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Get ready for a blast from the publishing past!

Design Crush: Lauren Conrad

A lot of people will be biting their tongue in the near future for thinking this girl is ONLY a celebrity.

Lauren Conrad is most known for her role on the MTV reality shows, Laguna Beach and The Hills, but she is quickly making herself a household name through her creative career pursuits. Why? Because she is ONE smart cookie, and a girl that never let go of her dreams.


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Pinterest Finds: Useful Interior Design Tips

Simple find for today, but House Beautiful's Top Designer Secrets board is one worth bookmarking. 
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It's perfect for those creative spirits who want to get their hands dirty and plan hardcore interior designer in their own home.  The tips come from professionals with ranging styles, but the board is definitely a collection of information everyone can learn something from.  Also, it may trouble shoot a design disaster. Check the board out here!  Have a great Tuesday!

Free Printable Friday: Thank You Cards

Right click on the image below (and after the jump) to view at full size.

Download file and print.

Use scissors or an exacto knife to cut out the cards, and fold.

For best results, use a laser printer and card stock.  

Free for personal use!

Project Runway Countdown - Quiz!

Take our quiz  Are You a Project Runway Fanatic??

...And get excited for Project Runway Season 10!! Premieres Thursday, July 19 at 9/8c on Lifetime!

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Keep In Touch With Us!

If you like Happy Design Stuff, be sure to follow us on Bloglovin'

What is Bloglovin'?

"Bloglovin' is an international website that makes it easy to follow their favorite blogs because they receive a reminder each time there is a new update. As of april 2012, the most popular blogger on Blog Lovin 'over 150,000 followers. For bloggers, this is also a very popular way to market themselves by reaching out to new readers" (Wikipedia) Also, the site has become popular because all followers are anonymous. Create an account today and follow all your favorite blogs!

Follow us on Twitter!

We tweet all of our posts there, plus other updates relevant to our site.  

Follow our Boards on Pinterest

If you like our Pinterest finds, our DIY ideas, etc. repin it for all your friends and we'll follow you back. 

Pinterest Finds: Make a Statement with Pattern Decor

There are few things that I adore more than a beautiful pattern...

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On google you can search wall paper/printed fabrics by brand, colors, and location, but you can't really search pattern by style.  A lot of designers would agree with me when I say Pinterest has turned this issue upside down!  With the use of tags, popularity of high-quality photos, and a growing number of modern businesses using Pinterest to share their products, you can always count on the site to find the best of the best. Before Pinterest, you could almost never find exact patterns you're looking for, and the trendy ones were muddled between irrelevant search results or outdated styles.  Now that the pattern world, among other things, has become more accessible, take advantage and cover your world with pattern!

Pattern Can Be Incorporated Anywhere

I love wall paper on the ceiling, it's unexpected and cool.  It doesn't necessarily have to be this bold - even a traditional paisley pattern on a ceiling brings a whimsical quality to any room. Just make sure the color is something you could live with for a long time and style the rest of the room around it. http://www.mylifestylebyrebeca.com/2012/06/escapada-marrakech-peacock-pavillions.html

Bold Patterned Bedding

The rule here was to keep everything simple against this high contrast dream-catcher pattern. They left the walls and curtains white so the eye is drawn from the pattern, to the bright pillows, to the outstanding mirror wall, to the mid-century modern, oversized chandelier.  The result is just gorgeous. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/high-impact-dec-140771

Wacky Tacky Websites

Tweet Have you  ever seen a website that made you say:

Back in school, our class all had to post the worst websites they've ever seen, and I think it serves as a healthy reminder for why web designers exist- and people should hire them!  Enjoy the list, and comment if you have any to add!

http://stunned.net/scott/index.shtml 

http://www.ratemykitten.com/

http://yvettesbridalformal.com/

http://www.lingscars.com/

http://pixyland.org/peterpan/

http://lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala.com/

http://www.rentistoodamnhigh.org/

http://www.dokimos.org/ajff/

Enjoy!

Pinterest Finds: Bold Necklaces

Click on any of the pins below and it'll take you to their original source. 

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The classic bib necklace 

The necklace in a neutral or metallic shade is most reminiscent of mid century style.  It flatters most necklines, it can fill in negative space created by a v-neck or scoop blouse. It can be worn under the an open-collared top, or over a boat neck dress. The ribbon detail makes it seem extra delicate and adorable. http://capecodcollegiate.tumblr.com/

Design Crush: Viktor Luna

A lot of very talented designers have emerged from Project Runway, but one we hope to hear more from, is Season 9 finalist, Viktor Luna. Known for his humble attitude and avant garde use of photographic prints, this New York fashion designer is one to watch out for in Fall 2012.  

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While the PR judges drooled over his fitted jackets, hand sewn mirror-laced top, and the use of his original photographic fabrics, their biggest criticism on the season finale was that there was "too much sheer."  It was very on-trend for Spring 2012 and keep in mind this show aired all the way back in September.

Viktor Luna: Fall Collection 2012

I think myself along with many other Pinterest-fashion obsessed women would seriously debate the idea that ANYONE can really have "too much sheer."  Personally, I think it's very cool that he pulled off a spring collection dripping with black.  Just because the weather is a little warmer doesn't mean I want to wear peach tops and white shorts every single day of the season.  Go Viktor!  I also would like to say that I very much appreciate the fact that he designed clothes with a woman's body in mind, aka, things that can look good whether you're size 2 or size 14, clothes that don't require showing 70% of your skin...

ALL the Secrets to a Great Slideshow Presentation

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Have you ever been shown a powerpoint presentation that hurt your eyes? Or one that had grammar/design errors that distracted you from the message it was trying to convey?  You don’t need to be a powerpoint expert or layout designer to create clean, fool-proof computer presentations.  If you know how to put together a seamless slide presentation it not only provides a visual outlet for your information, but also maintains your credibility.

Graphic designers like myself, love talking about why things aren’t successful visually/organizationally.  We may even make fun of it a little, but we make careers out of doing these things correctly.  One thing we all can agree on: the best work is clean and simple.  Here, I’m going to go over the do’s and don’ts of basic presentations, software, and safe exporting.

Presentations need to be clean, simple, and functioning in order to get the information through with clarity.

Free Printable Friday: Summer Party Invites

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Right click on the image below (and after the jump) to view at full size.

Download file and print.

Use scissors or an exacto knife to cut out the invites.

Fill out the information, and send in an envelope.

For best results, use a laser printer and card stock.  

Free for personal use!