Tech Made Simple

Hot Topics: How to Fix Bluetooth Pairing Problems | Complete Guide to Facebook Privacy | How to Block Spam Calls | Snapchat Symbol Meaning

We may earn commissions when you buy from links on our site. Why you can trust us.

author photo

The Return of Facebook Facial Recognition

by Dan O'Halloran on February 07, 2013

Back in 2010, Facebook announced the implementation of facial recognition technology to help its users identify their friends in uploaded photos. The idea was for better tagging of those pictures, but what it really did was stir up outrage at yet another move by the social network to connect us to other people's activity without our consent.

Facebook tweaked it repeatedly, but finally yanked it last year. And now it's back. Facebook announced the return of its facial recognition feature and, of course, you're automatically opted in unless you change your settings to block it.

Facebook facial Recognition

What's the downside? Once tagged, anyone searching for your name could see those pictures your friends posted, depending on your friend's privacy settings. Do you really want work colleagues and acquaintances seeing you on the beach in a bikini? Drinking at a college party? With your 1980's perm in full bloom?

If you don't want to be tagged at all in photos, here are the steps to prevent it.

  1. On your Facebook page, click on the gear symbol in the upper right corner. On the drop down menu that appears, choose Privacy Settings.
  2. In the left hand column, choose Timeline and Tagging.
  3. Under the the "How can I manage tags people add and tagging suggestions" subheader look for the "Who sees tag suggestions when photos that look like you are uploaded?"
  4. Click on the EDIT button next to that last section and change the option to "No one."

Facebook timeline settings

While you are in there, check to make sure you know who can see your timeline (we recommend setting it to "Friends" or "Friends of friends"), who can add posts to your timeline and who can tag you in their posts. Also, don't forget to check on the new privacy features Facebook rolled out in December that make it easier for you to manage your settings.


Topics

Facebook, News, Computers and Software, Blog, Privacy, Social Networking


Discussion loading

gravatar

From Angelica on February 07, 2013 :: 10:15 am


If you have our set in your options that you must approve all tags, you don’t have to worry about it. Amy tinge my friends tag me in a photo, I have the option to approve it, and key it be added to my timberline, or to remove the tag of myself. Very easy to do, imho.

Reply

gravatar

From Josh Kirschner on February 11, 2013 :: 9:57 am


Hi Angelica,

Approving tags only works for your own timeline. The tag will still appear in other peoples’ timelines. And if those posts are public, that photo along with a tag of you will be visible to anyone.

Per Facebook: “Timeline Review controls whether you have to manually approve posts you’re tagged in before they go on your timeline…This only controls what’s allowed on your timeline. Posts you’re tagged in still appear in search, news feed and other places on Facebook”

Reply

gravatar

From Tobi on February 12, 2013 :: 9:50 am


If i disabled it in the past, do i have to do it again now?!

Reply

gravatar

From Raven on February 16, 2013 :: 11:41 pm


Not true, you can still remove tags from anything you want to, and the tag will not be there if you do so.  Second, I know what the downside is. The downside is that the dumbass website constantly ‘suggests” tags for friends while other retarded people tag people in pictures that are not of them, such as quotes or pictures of Nintendo games. (The only time this should happen is in “Facebook taggies”; “tag your friends” grids.) This is what the only downside is, unless you’re dumb.

Reply

Home | About | Meet the Team | Contact Us
Media Kit | Newsletter Sponsorships | Licensing & Permissions
Accessibility Statement
Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookie Policy

Techlicious participates in affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which provide a small commission from some, but not all, of the "click-thru to buy" links contained in our articles. These click-thru links are determined after the article has been written, based on price and product availability — the commissions do not impact our choice of recommended product, nor the price you pay. When you use these links, you help support our ongoing editorial mission to provide you with the best product recommendations.

© Techlicious LLC.