ReputationDefender
Press Room

Facebook’s privacy settings are getting a facelift.

The social network announced plans to introduce a slew of changes to its sharing, tagging and privacy policies, a move that will have far-reaching effects on how users share information and with whom.

The features, which include the ability to screen tagged photos before they appear in profiles and the option to tag non-friends in pictures, mark Facebook’s efforts to give members more control over personal details, an important move for a company that has repeatedly faced controversy over its privacy policies.

Yet the latest update also appears to be a defensive move against Google+, a social networking service Google launched in July that has attempted to woo users away from Facebook by offering several unique privacy and sharing features. Facebook’s latest revamp underscores the increasing pressure the social networking site is facing from competitors and appears an attempt to assure users their personal data is safe with Facebook.

“Their announcement shows people care about privacy and Facebook is trying to catch up to privacy as a competitive advantage,” said Michael Fertik, CEO of ReputationDefender, a company that helps individuals manage their profile online. “I think Google+ did put them on their back foot.”

Facebook detailed the numerous new features in a 1,200 word blog posted Tuesday afternoon.

We’ve combed through their explanation to put together this detailed guide to Facebook’s new privacy settings–what they mean for you, how to use them, and more.

It is something even Miss Piggy probably contemplated before saying “I do” – whether to keep her maiden name or take Kermit’s last name.

Sibyl just got married and has decided to blend her last name with her husband Paul’s. She is now Sibyl Almonte de Cannella.

“It’s a combination of who we are as a couple. I want to honor my husband as well, I think it sounds cute,” said Almonte de Cannella*

One study showed that age is a factor. Ladies who married when they were 35 to 39 years old were 6.4 times more likely to keep their maiden names than women between the ages of 20 and 24. The folks at theknot.com say where you live also matters.

“86% of brides are still taking their husbands last names, going old school. That said, here in New York City, the number is only 51%,” said Anja Winikka of theknot.com.

Part of that has to do with the fact that women here get married later in life, and so many times have worked longer.

The founder of reputation.com says that giving up your maiden name or even combining surnames can be a recipe for professional disaster. For example, imagine “Miss Piggy Frog” or say, someone who has published papers online.

“They may have 50 papers that have been published under 50 articles for a journalist under a maiden name. They may be giving that up if they decided to change their name online as well,” warned Michael Fertik of ReputationDefender.

Heather Levine says “I do” in two weeks, and will stick with her maiden name professionally. However, to the rest of the world, she will be Heather Ajiashvili.

“It’s part of his heritage, part of who he is, so that’s one of the reasons I want to take it. It’s also one of the reasons I love it and once you learn how to say it, it rolls off of your tongue,” said Levine.

In May, Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall tweeted about the death of Osama bin Laden, which cost him an endorsement deal with Champion.

The tweet said, “It’s amazing how people can hate a man they have never even heard speak. We’ve only heard one side.”

Experts said while Mendenhall’s case is extreme, people’s online reputation can be detrimental in the work place or for those who are looking for work.

“You see this everyday with athletes. They post these totally inappropriate things,” said employee relations coordinator for the career development center at Jewish Family and Children Services, Patrick Ferraro.

Ferraro specialized in job placement and said job seeker should also think twice about what they post online.

“They [employers] do a lot of different types of background checks and I think exploring these things thoroughly is definitely one of them. So, if you have a blog and you’re a job seeker, be very careful what you put on that blog because it can come back and really be very detrimental to your chances of getting an opportunity,” Ferraro said. “We even heard of people losing their jobs over this.”

Ferraro said even students should be cautious with their online posts.

“College recruiters check Facebook and if they see things that are inappropriate, that brings into question that student’s judgment and their ability to be accountable. It could impact an individual going to the school they want to go to,” said Ferraro.

Cleaning up an online image has become big business. The creator of ReputationDefender, Michael Fertik, said people are seeking out his help to clean up personal social networking sites.

“You can decide if it’s too personal, too intimate, and if it is too personal or too intimate there are things that you can do about it,” Fertik said.