Facebook issued a statement saying that users had more freedom through the new layout to control who sees what, although users argued that this was both time-consuming and confusing. However, the new layout is here to stay.

Remove Content You don’t want Others to see on your Facebook Timeline

If you don’t want everyone to see your every action from 2007 – such as what you had for dinner, what you thought, liked and shared – here’s a step-by-step guide to manage privacy settings for your facebook Timeline.

Hiding Timeline Elements like Friends, Map, Friending Activity, Likes, Social Reader etc

► Friends : Click the Friends link on your timeline and it will take you to your friend-list page.  Click on the ‘Edit‘ button on the top-right and select the appropriate option from the drop down.

While it is a good idea to keep your friend-list visible to only ‘Friends without Acquaintances‘ but I would recomend to select ‘Custom‘ and show it to a limited number of people who you might have organised into a custom Facebook List.

► Map : If you don’t want people to see the history of all the places that you’ve stayed and checked-in on a map, then you can hide map on your Facebook timeline. Click on the down arrow icon at the end of your Timeline favorites. (see pic. below)

Once you click it hover your mouse pointer on the Map tile and you should see an edit icon (pencil) at the corner. Click it and select ‘Remove from Favorites‘ to hide map from your facebook timeline.

► Friending  Activity : Sometimes you may want to keep the knowledge of whom you add as friends personal. To hide friending activity from your timeline wall, browse down to the widget that shows your recent friend additions.

Hover your mouse on the top-right corner and click on the edit icon (pencil) and select ‘Hide from Timeline‘ to hide the friends widget or ‘All Friends Added…‘  to hide whom you’ve recently add as friends on facebook.

► Likes and Other Activity Widgets : By default your Facebook timeline will show almost all the activity that you do on facebook like reading news though a social reader app or commenting and liking stuff, joining groups and events, posts made by apps you have installed.

You can hide them if you want by click the same edit (pencil) icon on the top right that appears when you take your mouse close to the top-right corner of the social widget on your timeline and choose ‘Hide from Timeline‘.

Hide Old Posts, Keep them Visible to Friends Only

Go to your profile page and click the drop down arrow to the right of the ‘Home’ tab in the top right hand corner of the screen. Select ‘Privacy Settings’. The first thing you should do is limit the visibility of your old posts. On the list of options, select Manage Past Post Visibility as per the following screen shot.

A warning sign will pop up, as illustrated in the next screen shot. Clicking ‘Limit Old Posts’ is an action that cannot be undone, so to the left of that there is an option ‘Learn about changing old posts’ (see the second screen shot). When you click Limit Old Posts, anyone not on your friend list will not be able to view posts on your Timeline.

Managing Default Privacy while Posting Status Updates / Images From Mobile Device

To ensure that content you post from a mobile device or app stays private, there is also a setting to control this. On the main privacy settings menu, and look for ‘Control Your Default Privacy’ and select ‘Friends’ or select the option that suits you.

But you can also control who you allow and who you do not allow to view information posted from your mobile or applications other than Facebook by customizing the post visibility settings to your preferences by clicking Custom. Type in friends’ names or the custom lists you’ve created into the ‘Make this visible to’ or ‘Hide this from’ option boxes, as illustrated.

Manage Who can Post on Your Timeline Wall

Next go back to the main Privacy Settings menu and select ‘Timeline and Tagging’. This option will control who is able to post what content on your Timeline. You can control posts, tagging in photos, and can choose to review content before it is posted. Take a look at the below screen shot to help you.

Manage Who can Connect with You on Facebook

Next, you should think about what information you wish to be available to people who search for you that are not on your friend list. On the main ‘Privacy Settings’ menu, selected ‘How you connect’. The screen shot below shows the options that are available for restriction, including your contact details, messaging, and friend request options.

Protect Your Personal Information from Facebook Apps

Did you know that your personal information is also available to view through the apps you have downloaded to Facebook? Privacy controls on these apps are controlled separately to those on your main Facebook page.

To limit them, select ‘Apps and Websites’ from the main privacy settings menu. The following screen shot appears. Here you can see all the apps you have subscribed to, and can adjust privacy for each one.

Guest Post by Sarah Flanders, who is a freelance writer from England who specialises in finance and technology articles for various journals including a recent review of over 50 car insurance.

Also See : Create Fake Facebook Comments, Twitter Conversation, Funny iPhone Text Threads

Facebook information listed in the profile will be indicated as milestones on Timeline. The user will be able to make a record of their entire life from the time they became a Facebook user to present day. To get the new facebook timeline feature online, you don’t need a PhD or any special qualification. In fact, there are just four simple steps to access Timeline.

4 Steps to Unlock Facebook Timeline on Profile

Step 1. Log into Facebook under developer mode at this link. You may have to retype your password to continue to the appropriate developer view. When it requests permission, make sure to click allow.

Step 2. Create a new application by selecting the create new app button in the top left corner. Write anything you want for the application name and namespace, and agree to the terms and conditions.

You will have to have verified your account using your mobile or credit card number, and you may have to fill out a captcha too.

Step 3. Select Open Graph. The application must be defined by an action and an object of interaction. The description is usually just a verb and a noun, like Timeline and Profile.

Scroll down and click Save Changes and Next, and do the same on the next screen, and on the last screen click Save and Finish.

Step 4. Once you are finished, Facebook will recognize you as a developer. Wait a few minutes, and then return to your profile page. A Facebook invite to Timeline will appear.

Timeline will not show as your homepage each time you log in. Each time, you will have to use a special link to navigate to Timeline. The link looks like this:

http://www.facebook.com/YOURUSERNAMEHERE?sk=timeline

If you don’t have a facebook username link refer to this tutorial on how to get a personalized facebook profile url.

What Else Should You Know About the Facebook Timeline?

The application is still in Beta version, so there are still a few bugs that need to be worked out. Overall, Facebook users should be able to enjoy the applications with little or no problems. As it is, Facebook has it set originally that no one else can see your new profile layout for about a week, so you can get used to it and organize it just the way you like. If you think you’re ready to show it off though, you can by pressing the Publish Now button that should appear in the top right corner.

How Does Timeline Appear to Facebook Users?

Facebook Timeline allows Facebook users to select a personalized cover photo that sits at the top of the page, along with a profile photo. Three menu items will also be displayed in the right corner below the cover photo. The menu items include: Update Info, Settings and View Activity. Under these tabs, the user will be allowed to update the following information: Employment and Education History, Contact Information, Favorite Quotes, List of Family Members and Relationships and Places of Residence.

The user will also view a list of all Facebook activity since the day that you joined Facebook. The information catalogued will include information written on friends’ walls, photographs and links shared. Privacy may be set through the Settings Cog. The tab will also show you what your Timeline will appear like. A Facebook badge may also be added under this tab.

►Check out the official demo of the Facebook Timeline at this link.

Many people enjoy viewing their progression through life and sharing the progression with others. Facebook has helped to make this possible in the past by chronicling social interactions over time, but it was difficult to paw through that sometimes to look for specific events. Timeline will help greatly with this, and it’s a lovely layout too. It should be quite popular with those that enjoy a pictorial and written chronology of their lives. (- Guest Post by Elaine Hirsch -)

Also Read : Create New Facebook Profile Layout Hack Using Tagged Photos

So, you can easily find most of your friend’s mobile number on facebook by searching on the Contacts page from your facebook account.

Search For Friend’s Phone Number on Facebook

Once you log into your account, click on the [Accounts ▼] tab (top-right on the navigation bar) and select Edit Friends link.

On that "Friends" page click on Contacts menu to show a list of available mobile numbers of your friends on facebook.

This list pulls together the contact information your friends already share with you on their profiles into one convenient place. It also includes contacts you import from your phone.

Use Search to find the contact number of a friend you’re looking for. This helped me a lot to quickly find mobile numbers of facebook friends who are not there on my phone.

Though this is fine, you might not want to share your mobile number so publicly (with friends) on facebook unknowingly. You should then read on to see the privacy settings for hiding your contact information from Friends and strangers or specific people on facebook.

How to Hide Contact Information on Facebook

1. Once again go to your account, click on the [Accounts ▼] tab and select Privacy Settings link.

2. On the Privacy Settings page, scroll down and click on Customize settings link (see pic. above).

3. On the Customize settings page scroll down to find Contact information section and it will show you all the contact information and whom you allow to see it.

4. Click on any one of the contact info. like mobile number and select the type of people who can see/access it. If you want to hide your contact number on facebook completely from everyone choose Customize. (see above)

5. In the next window under Make this visible to you can select the option Only Me or the others.

By choosing "Only Me" you’re specifying that only you can see that contact information on your facebook profile, while the rest of the world won’t see it at all or access from their phonebook page, unless you specify certain people in the above step to see them.

Search for a Friend’s Phone Number on Facebook and How to Hide Yours [Video]

Hope this helps from unknown people calling you in the middle of the night. It’s best that you hide your mobile number on facebook to avoid security issues.

Note, if you ‘re based in Australia then check our some really interesting offers on the iphone at www.vodafone.com.au.

Also See : Hide Relationship Status on Facebook, Show to Selected Friends

Hide the Row of Photos below Facebook Profile Name

So, if you want to disable your facebook profile’s photostream and not show the strip of tagged photos in a row, here is a simple tip you can use to hide them from anyone viewing your profile.

Step 1 : Click [Account ▼] on the top-right of the navigation and go to Privacy Settings^[1].

Step 2 : On the Privacy Settings page, scroll down and click on Customize settings.

Step 3 : On the Customize settings page scroll down to find Things others share section and click the [Edit Settings] button (beside Photos and videos you’re tagged in).

Step 4 : On the popup window click the dropdown menu to select Customize.

Step 5 : In the next window under Make this visible to select the option Only Me.

By choosing "Only Me" you’re specifying that only you can see the photo row on your facebook profile, while the rest of the world won’t see it at all, unless you specify certain people in step5 above to see them.

The photo steam is great way to show your life activity on facebook and some people have found ways to use it creatively by displaying a profile banner using tagged photos.

Tip : In case, if you want to know how your facebook profile looks to a certain friend (to check if hiding a relationship status from your ex, or showing status to selected friends is working or not) then go to the Customize settings page [step 3 above] and look for the button [Preview My Profile] at the top right.

Click it and add + select name of the person to see how your profile looks to him/her. (see above)

I hope this trick of hiding the facebook photo strip on your profile will help you and sometimes even save from embarrassment from being tagged on some really offensive picture etc. Let us know in comments if you faced any situation like this.

Tip : Report Fake Facebook Profile, Impostor Account

Facebook Security : Protect Profile, Account from Clickjacking, Untrusted Sites

While the social networking site will soon require users to confirm before posting comments and will mandate that users enter a special code before accessing the site from an unrecognized computer, the security modifications are still receiving harsh criticisms since the changes only "warn" users of potential threats, it doesn’t get rid of them.

While at the very least the amped security settings should help users be more cautious when using the site, there are other simple ways Facebook users can protect their information from getting into the wrong hands. To learn the 5 ways to prevent against Facebook clickjacking, continue reading below.

5. Install a Spam & Virus Firewall

By far the easiest way to safe-guard your computer from clickjacking, spam and viruses is to install anti-spyware and virus software. You should never browse the internet without proper protection; you should especially never browse heavy traffic sites like Facebook—a scammer’s playground—if you are not protected. If your anti-spyware and virus software is outdated, renew it. If you are depleted of funds, there are plenty of organizations that offer limited protection entirely for free, like AVG free antivirus.

4. Log-out, Always

There are particular web sites that allow users to remain logged-in for extended periods, like Facebook. While constantly being logged-in may be convenient, especially if you use those sites on your phone, you are actually making yourself extremely vulnerable to hackers—they can forge requests via clickjacking with more ease. So always make sure you log-out.

3. Secure Web Chanel

One of the easiest ways to increase security settings is to make sure that you are browsing Facebook using HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure). To check whether you are using a secure browsing site, simply check the address bar. It should say, "https://www.facebook.com/" not "http://www.facebook.com." If it does not say this, go to Account > Account Settings > Account Security (click change) and check the box that says Secure browsing (https).

2. Upgrade Browser

To increase your level of protection, all you may simply need to do is upgrade your web browser to the latest version. This is because recent updates to Google Chrome, Mozilla Fire Fox 4 and Internet Explorer 9 are designed to help fight and prevent clickjacking and spamming. Don’t automatically assume because you download the new version of the web browser of your choice that you are immune to clickjacking however. It’s important that you still take precaution at all times.

1. Install Browser Add-Ons

Some web browsers provide free add-ons that are specifically designed to increase protection and are tailored to help block clickjacking, NoScript for Mozilla Firefox and Not Scripts available for Google Chrome users. Both add-ons work the same way: they stop Flash movies from automatically loading and playing when you visit a site. Granted, you can view the videos if you wish, all you need to do is click on the empty section where the movie would normally be.

Author Bio: This is a guest post by Nadia Jones who blogs at best online college about education, college, student, teacher, money saving, movie related topics. You can reach her at nadia.jones5@gmail.com

Also See: Stay Protected from Fake Facebook Login Pages Used to Hack Passwords

This is an great implementation as previously tagging people with long names made the comment look cluttered, now you can choose the shortest part of your friend’s name and also make the comment look less formal.

Tag Friends on Facebook Easily, By their Shortest Name  

Not only this after the recent update you don’t need to use the @ symbol to tag someone anymore. Simply type in the name with starting with capitals, like Amit instead of amit while writing your status message or a comment.

To use short names (either the firstname, lastname or middlename), first tag the person and then use the mouse cursor and delete/backspace to remove tag on the part of the name you want to remove the tag from. Watch the clip below to understand.

As you can see from above, I chose the parts names I wanted to keep as tagged. You can remove rest part of the name that you don’t want to keep in the comment or status and keep only part of the name which you think will work for you.

For people with only Firstname and Lastname you can use any one for tagging. But for people with middle names you can tag any one of the part of that friend’s name.

I think this a great feature that many will appreciate since long names sometime makes the comment replies not only ugly but it also makes it look formal. With this new short names tagging you have more control over how you tag people in your facebook comments and status.

Also See : Edit Spelling Mistake on a Facebook Comments

Tip: Did Spelling Mistake ? Edit Facebook Comments

Create Fake Facebook Comments Thread on Status Fails

Create fake Facebook Conversations at fakebookquotes.appspot.com.

Simple enter text as Person1: Status and on the next line Person2: Comment and next line as Person3: Comment and so on as shown above and click "Create Facebook Quote" to generate your funny facebook comments conversation.  

You can also create more natural looking facebook conversations at fakeconvos.com which lets you easily create fake Facebook news feeds and conversations with advanced settings.

Create Fake iPhone Text Conversations, Messages

Generate fake iPhone conversations, text at fakeiphonetext.com.

Simple enter text as Person1: Text Message and on the next line Person2: Reply Message and next line as Person1: Text Message and so on as shown above and click "Create" to generate your funny iphone conversations, text messages, autocorrect fails etc. 

Fake Tweet Builder, Create Fake Tweets

Make your own fake Twitter conversations, funny tweets at faketweetbuilder.com.

Simple enter text as Person1: Tweet and on the next line Person2: @ Reply Tweet and so on as shown above and click "Create Twitter Thread" to generate your funny tweets, twitter reply threads, conversations.

Here’s a video by gigafide explaining these online tools and how to use them to make fake iphone text messages, facebook & twitter conversations.

Also See: Hide, Show Facebook Status Only to Selected Friends

Tip: Create Facebook Profile Layout Hack Using Tagged Photos

How to Not Show Facebook Questions Answers Polls in your Profile

Well Facebook Questions is cool but some times it can be annoying when there are so many that your News Feed looks cluttered with spammy polls etc. This problem is aggravated if you have lot of friends on facebook. So, if you are tired of Facebook Questions here are few ways to remove them.

1. Chrome Extension: "Hide Facebook Questions"

This extensions works wonderfully by blocking Facebook Question Polls by disabling the CSS, HTML elements from your facebook news feed page and its works perfectly.

# Install Hide Facebook Questions : Link

Once you install it simple refresh facebook and it starts to work immediately.

2. F.B. Purity: Clean Up Your Facebook Homepage [All Browsers]

F.B. Purity is a browser extension (greasemonkey script) that can remove and hide all the annoying facebook questions, polls, quiz messages and other silly application spam, unwanted group messages from your facebook newsfeed, homepage.

Once installed it leaves you just the standard components such as status updates, links, notes, photos, etc on your news/recent feed on the homepage. You can customize what elements you want to hide, block from your facebook feed.

# Install F.B. Purity : Link | Mirror

F.B. Purity is compatible with the following web browsers: Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari and Opera, running on Windows, Mac, Linux etc.

Also See: Show Status Updates from All Facebook Friends Instead "Most Interacted With"

Facebook commenting system was improved recently by letting you post a comment by pressing Enter (Shift+Enter for a new line), which bugged some people but again I think it was a nicely implemented feature as now you don’t need to use your mouse every time you post a comment.

And if you use facebook’s keyboard navigation shortcuts, then the whole facebook experience can become mostly keyboard based, mouse-less. Quite productive I think if you are using a laptop.

How to Edit a Recently Posted Comment on Facebook

Watch the little demo below, once you post a comment you have 10 seconds to edit it in case of changing a comment or correcting spelling mistakes.

After posting the comment, hover you mouse on the comment and click [x] button. The edit feature will activate and you can change the content of your comment as desired. You can re-edit the comment if you click [x] within 10 seconds.

The users won’t see your comment unless 10 seconds have passed after the last edit. So you don’t have to worry now about those silly spelling mistakes, typos or something which you shouldn’t have said.

I must thank facebook  for this comment edit feature since I do lot of typos and now I can just edit them, no one will ever know…

Also See: Show Facebook Status Only to Specific Group of Friends

Colorbook extension for chrome browser is simple tool for changing the color theme on Facebook in just a click.

# Install Colorbook Extension : Link

After you install it, you will notice a Facebook icon on the address bar. Click it, and you will see a color palette pop-down.

Select your favourite color. I recommend using a soothing color close to cool colours which will help your eyes if you spend lot of time on facebook. You can also ask a friend with blue colour-blindness to use this extension so that he or she may see a better looking version of facebook.

Also See : Make Google Chrome Browser Faster with Hardware Acceleration