Facebook users, get ready.  Since Facebook’s number of members has skyrocketed well past MySpace, and other social networking sites, regional networks are becoming obsolete.  Regional networks have opened up a slew of privacy issues.  I have fallen victim myself, not realizing that my entire regional network of Washington DC could see my profile.  My fiancé’s former “friend” decided to start cyber-stalking me after he turned her down for a relationship and started dating me.  This went on for quite some time right under my nose!  It wasn’t until I mistakenly let her best friend and her family move in with us that I was advised of the cyber stalking.  Seriously, be careful who you tell what to because when y’all fight, it all comes out!  Though I still have my regional network, I’ve locked everything off to friends only.  Really, who knows who is in your “regional network?”

In the next few weeks, we’ll be seeing some changes and messages from Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg.  He’s promised to let us fine tune our privacy settings so that we can control exactly who sees what.  This is a great thing!  Now, perhaps you can add your co-workers or, dare I say it, even your boss to your friends list and keep them separate from your friends who post photos of you passed out drunk with Sharpie on your face! 

Of course, some people are speculating that this might be getting people into trouble… If you’re creepin’ around on your girl, you’re gonna get caught!  Let me forewarn you on that one.  The moment you forget to log out of Facebook on your way to the bathroom and she sees that she’s been blocked from photos of you and that other girl who was supposedly just a “family friend” at last week’s get together, slobbering all over each other… Let’s just say it’s going to be bad… and I can’t wait! 

So please, use the new privacy tools responsibly.  I love the idea, but I’d hate to see it go haywire.  With that said, Mom, I’m still not adding you on Facebook.