The Funky Apple | A New York City Blog

Facebook by default is leaky and gossipy. Here’s how to shut him up (for now.)

Step 1: Block Instant Personalization

This is Facebook’s “new hotness” that allows sites to customize themselves based on your profile’s likes and dislikes. While it may sound cool, it means that Facebook is sharing your likes with these sites. Turn it off. It’s under account > privacy settings > applications and websites > instant personalization pilot program. But don’t stop there, go find the applications for the websites that use instant personalization and block them too. Right now there are three: Docs, Pandora, and Yelp. Block those applications like they’ve got the herps.

Step 2: Shut your friends up

Your Facebook profile may be airtight, but your friends are leaky Titanics waiting to share your data with the world. To control what your friends can share about you, go to  account > privacy settings > applications and websites > what friends can share about you. When you see what your friends are allowed to share, you’re going to have a heart attack. Uncheck everything.

Step 3: Lock down some apps

This is the most time consuming part of the process. Head over to account > privacy settings > applications and websites > what you share. You’ll have to click past a screen of fluffy facebook talk, but after that, you’re presented with all the applications that can share data about you. You can now go through them one by one to revoke permissions.

This part is by no means fun. Nor should it be. You’re in a fight against Facebook, and fight’s aren’t fun. But with a little determination, you can safely shut Facebook up (at least until the next round of updates).

You should also watch Piotr Krzyzek’s excellent video on how to lock down your Facebook profile over at his website.