Is facebook.com Safe?

The privacy problem is a big safety concern. It's one thing if someone chooses to make their profile public, use lots of gadgets/applications, or post much private information. However, it's a very different situation when privacy settings change after someone fills in all the contact, and employment information, etc. in the basic profile setup, and perhaps posts photos including family/children, believing (based on their privacy settings) that the information will not be shared, or will only be shared with people they've chosen as "friends." This practice (whether intentional on the part of Facebook or not) puts many people in danger of being stalked or their children compromised, even if they haven't engaged in "risky" online behavior. While I enjoy the services and am too skeptical to be vulnerable to most of the gimmicks, I'm beginning to believe that Facebook has become dangerously aggressive about facilitating networking and information sharing.

"Applications" that I thought I had blocked keep sneaking back in and posting some sort of message or ad to prompt or goad me into using site. Also, many unwanted messages, "stories" about services that "friends" are using (they usually don't know I'm getting the ad). Haven't found a way yet to control these.

Privacy of posted content not secure. Many loopholes. Most of my privacy settings were changed without my knowledge (probably a hidden approval within something I clicked on somewhere on or off the site). Many features of the site/service allow your information and *your friends' information* to be distributed and/or used - these disclosures are available but often buried.

No existing privacy of any kind, basically they own everything you type/add to your/friends profiles such as pictures, or any other kind of information. Remember: If you add a beautiful/amazing photo from for example a journey to another country, then they own that picture, and got the right to take it as their own and sell it, and that is a known issue. Solution: There is a law (in Sweden) named PuL (Personuppgiftslagen) that will should help against this. What I've heard, then there is laws like this in all/most country's within EU. Use Google to translate this page if needed. *****