Why Are Facebook Facilitating This Sort Of Thing?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35521068
Apparently you can have secret groups, makes it easy for Paedophiles etc.

[youngmafbog]

Because it's a tool of the Devil.

[jno]

I assume they aren't facilitating paedophile groups, they're just facilitating groups and don't necessarily know who's in them. Why they don't pull finger when thjey're told about them, though, I don't know. It may be to do with Americans' strong distaste for having authorities tell them what they're allowed to do; but Americans don't like paedophiles wither and probably wouldn't object if FB did something about it.

(It is just possible, I suppose, that authorities are monitoring these sites already and FB don't want to obstruct the investigation, but that's just a wild guess.)

[agchristie]

#8;4( +9!3& f?/@ nz#;

[-Talbot-]

Just what I was about to say, agchristie.

[woofgang]

I am a member of two secret facebook groups. They aren’t anything unpleasant or illegal but they do enable people to sound off about their families, discuss very private problems and so on without anyone else knowing or seeing what is discussed. I took great comfort from one group when my husband was very ill. Facebook can monitor these groups and should be doing so....as Jno say, maybe they are...I have no kids but if I did I would not be allowing them on FB before age 14 and would be requiring their password, not just to friend them, so I could see what was going on on their pages and in their messaging. I think that schools have a duty to to monitor how children use school equipment.

Yes there are paedophiles on facebook...also probably on other chat facilities and social media (the last hoo ha was about Second Life...remember that?) If facebook vanished tomorrow it wouldn’d stop or even put a crimp in, internet use by paedophiles so let’s keep this in proportion.

[ichkeria]

I belong to a 'secret group' on Facebook

So there :-)

[-Talbot-]

My secret Facebook group is that secret even I don't know about it.

[youngmafbog]

A couple of people here for MI5 then

[EDDIE51]

I know someone who is a member of a 'secret' group. It is for people who have suffered sex abuse as children to get help, support and advise from others who have had similar problems.
I assume it has to be carefully monitored as the potential for it to be used for the wrong reason is obvious.
I actually told the person not to use Facebook for such advise, but to join AB where they do not have to use their real name.(remember FB has just changed it's policy to only allow people to use their real names)

[jomifl]

Divebuddy, I've seen the weather forecast too.

[RATTER15]

I have my own secret FB page.

[Old_Geezer]

But Bookface won't know what users' real names are.
Private groups are not the issue. It's detection of misuse that needs improving.

[TWR]

I've said in the past that this F.B. site was dangerous, some on here said it was not, does the link say it all about F.B.?

[RATTER15]

"I've said in the past that this F.B. site was dangerous, some on here said it was not, does the link say it all about F.B.?"

The internet is dangerous! of course people will abuse it, my good lady had her bank account hacked and all her money take two days ago!

FB is an excellent site, however it can be abused, just like AB can be and millions of other sites!

[EDDIE51]

Old_Geezer, FB now requires all members to use their real name and provide proof of ID.

[woofgang]

Eddie, no it does not. If FB have reason to think you are not using your own name, they can suspend your account until you have proved who you are but they don’t do it to everybody. I am not sure about new members as I have had my account for some years.
Here’s the name policy
https://www.facebook.com/help/958948540830352/

[hc4361]

I've got two FB accounts, neither are in my real name. I am in secret groups in both, nothing sinister and we are all aware that FB can monitor them if it wants to.

FB is not evil. A minority of the people that use it are, just as there are evil minorities in every aspect of life, from the Church to the Boy Scouts, to schools, police forces and every thing else that involves people.

FB is a fantastic way of keeping in touch with friends and family all over the world.

[TheChair]

Like hc4361, I also have two FB accounts, neither in my real name, and one of them could not under any circumstances be construed as a real name.
Facebook no longer requires you to provide specific proof of identity, although it *may* ask you to demonstrate that the name you are using is one by which at least some people know you. I've never been asked to do that, though.