Facebook Changes Privacy Settings To Fill Gaps In Search Engine So That Users Cannot Hide Their Profile Anymore; Is It Time To For Good Facebook Profile Picture?

Facebook in its recent privacy setting update announced its decision to remove the option to “turn off visibility” of profile in Facebook searches.

Earlier, Facebook account users could hide their profile from search results by deciding, “Who can look up your Timeline by name.”

This meant that nobody could find them by searching them by typing their name, email, or Facebook username in Facebook’s search box.

In the privacy setting update last year, Facebook removed this option for members who were not using it. Those who had hidden their profiles could keep it hidden and continue to do so until the feature is rolled out in the coming weeks.

In its October 10, 2013 news release, Facebook explained the reason behind this move is to strengthen its search feature, which felt ‘broken’ at times.

“The setting also made Facebook's search feature feel broken at times. For example, people told us that they found it confusing when they tried looking for someone who they knew personally and couldn't find them in search results, or when two people were in a Facebook Group and then couldn't find each other through search,” read the update.

The social network site will notify the users (who are still using this feature) that the setting is being removed and people can look up their timeline by searching their name. Therefore, you can tweak the privacy settings around individuals elements such as your profile picture, basic information, groups, activities, photos, friends etc depending upon what you want to share.

Given that a lot of employers, universities, college admission counselors etc look up a prospective candidates’ Facebook profile (by searching the name or email address), it is important that you at least put a decent profile picture.

People can limit what information they want to share with a person who is not their friend or if friends’ friend (worse-case scenario).