Think just because you’ve limited your Facebook profile to just your list of friends you have a handle on your information? Think again. 

Given that many of us are Facebook friends with coworkers and others in our professional networks, it’s increasingly important to know what information we are sharing and with whom.

There is much talk about Facebook’s policy of opting out of what you share vs. opting in. The majority of a user’s data is public by default – unless you opt out and change your settings. That said, if you’ve ever visited your profile’s Privacy page you know there’s no large red button that says, “Keep my profile and everything in it private.” Instead, you find a sea of settings, buttons to click, and questions about which networks to include or leave out.

While the ability to customize your settings may have been helpful in the early years of Facebook, now with a user base of over 400 million and multiple channels for sharing your photos, messages, and personal information, the demand for a simple way to keep your information private is a matter of increasing importance.  

So, how do you keep it all straight? Try these steps:

1. Know what’s searchable on the internet. Use this online tool to do a quick search and find out what information about you is public (hint: it’s a fast and easy way to check your current settings).

2. If you don’t like what you see, change your settings. Everyone has different levels of comfort with what information – be informed on what others see when they view your Facebook profile.  Facebook offers a short video on how to quickly manage your profile.

3. Set up friend groups. This is an easy way to let certain friends view your photos and other personal information, while blocking others.