Imagine logging into your Facebook account and allowing everyone to see every photo you’ve posted to your profile (yes, even those photos!) We received an email from Deborah, who experienced this exact nightmare.
“Recently I found out that my Facebook account had tricked me into giving them permission to access my entire camera roll on my phone. All of my photos were available for anyone to see. I had taken pictures of my double mastectomy surgery and when I clicked the pictures on my FB page I was shocked to see everything in it. From now on I will not have any photos on my phone. [except] This is my profile picture.”
Facebook has a variety of settings that can cause this to happen, as well as ways to stop it from happening.
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Facebook account persona (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
How to stop sharing all your photos on Facebook
1) Facebook Camera Roll Permissions
When you use the Facebook app on your phone, Facebook requests permission to access your camera roll for photos and videos. This allows you to upload photos and videos from your phone to your Facebook account. Once you decide to share photos and videos to your Facebook account, you have additional options. You can give permission to share none, some, or all of your photos and videos, so it is important to be careful when selecting your desired sharing options and check from time to time to make sure the permission settings are still valid.
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2) Prevention of Unauthorized Access
To prevent Facebook and other apps from accessing your entire camera roll, follow the steps below (make sure your apps are updated before following these steps):
For mobile phones:
- On the main screen of your mobile phone, setting
- Scroll down and tap Privacy and Security (or similar option depending on your device)
- Tap photograph
Steps to stop sharing all your photos on Facebook (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
- Tap Facebook
- Select the amount of access you want to grant to the Facebook app (none, Access Restrictionsor Full Access)
Steps to stop sharing all your photos on Facebook (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
For the Facebook app:
- open Facebook App
- Tap Three horizontal lines or Menu icon (This will appear in the top right or bottom right corner depending on your device)
- Tap Settings and Privacy
Steps to stop sharing all your photos on Facebook (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
- Tap setting
- In the drop-down menu, Posts under Audience and awareness
Steps to stop sharing all your photos on Facebook (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
- under PostsYou can choose Who can see your future posts? By setting the desired exposure level in the dropdown (e.g. friend, Other than friends…, Specific friends, just me, acquaintance or Close friend).
Steps to stop sharing all your photos on Facebook (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
5 ways to secure your Facebook account
Check out the previously posted photos:
- open Facebook App
- please select photograph I want to review
- Tap Three points (Depending on your device, it will be displayed in the top right corner)
- Tap Edit Post Privacy
- Hope Exposure Level You want (e.g. friend, Other than friends…or just meetc.)
- Tap end (Displayed in the top right corner on some devices)
How to check previously posted photos (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
Third-party apps:
- When using other apps (not just Facebook), be sure to check their permissions to access your camera roll and photo albums.
- Do not allow full access unless it is essential to the functionality of your app.
Even if you change your permission settings, we recommend that you periodically check your Facebook privacy settings to make sure they match your preferences, especially after any operating system or app updates.
How to remove access to your photos from Facebook
3) Profile Photo Exception
When in doubt, it’s best to limit photos and videos that may contain sensitive information on your Facebook account, except for your profile photo. That way, you don’t have to go back and do damage control on each image. You can always upload individual photos, making sure the privacy settings for each photo are to your liking.
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Important points about the cart
Having all your photos and videos on Facebook available for everyone to see, including embarrassing selfies and personally sensitive photos you forgot you took, is a nightmare. It’s always a good idea to limit access to your camera roll and check the privacy settings within the app, whether it’s Facebook or another app. You’re not alone in your use of technology, and you should be applauded for taking steps to protect your privacy.
Have you ever experienced a privacy violation on social media? How did you deal with it? Email us and let us know. Cyberguy.com/Contact Us.
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