Facebook Privacy and Security, Tips, Tricks and Apps – Resource Roundup

While everyone from kids to our grandparents are using Facebook these days, Facebook is still very foreign to the majority. Other than posting status updates, uploading photos, sending messages and using a few Facebook Applications, most users aren’t familiar with privacy settings, the quantity of applications or how to optimize their page. Today, I’ve collected some of my favorite Facebook resources to help you become a Facebook power user.

Privacy and Security

Did you know that your profile is now indexed by Google or that your photo albums may be set to be viewable by everyone? Two outstanding references are 10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know (allfacebook.com) and 10 Solid Tips to Safeguard Your Facebook Privacy (makeuseof.com). These guides will help you adjust your settings as needed and keep your profile secure.

Tips and Tricks

Many Facebook users know the basics of some of the cool things they can do with Facebook, but few know how to take full advantage of some of these 20 Facebook Tips/Tricks You Might Not Know (hongkiat.com).

Facebook Apps

Did you know that there are far more apps than the addicting FarmVille and Mafia Wars? Few users are aware that Facebook has a directory for their apps at Facebook Apps Directory (Facebook.com). If you don’t feel like searching through the directory, you may want to take a look at Facebook Powertools: 150+ Apps, Scripts, and Add-ons for Facebook (mashable.com), 100 Awesome Facebook Apps for Productivity and Learning (selectcourses.com), 25 Awesome Facebook Apps for Designers (webdesignerdepot.com) or maybe 20 Facebook Desktop Apps to Try (news.cnet.com).

Want to check out the most popular Facebook Apps? How about seeing which Apps are taking a dive? AppData tracks data on each and every Facebook Application. This site provides the Application Leaderboard, Top Gainers and Losers for both today and this week, along with the top developers.

Facebook Pages

Perhaps you want more than just a profile page. Whether you’re a band, entertainer or a business, you will want to definitely increase your audience. A good place to start is How To Develop a Facebook Page That Attracts Millions of Fans (allfacebook.com). Additional resources that you can use to enhance your page include Mashable’s 5 Tips for Optimizing Your Brand’s Facebook Presence, 5 Elements of a Successful Facebook Fan Page and 8 Essential Apps for Your Brand’s Facebook Page.