There's an internet adage that goes "If it's free, you're not the customer, you're the product."

The business model for social media boils down to using your information and the record of what you engage with on the platform in order to:

• Keep you engaged on the platform so that you'll see more ads (eyeballs)
• Fit you into the profiles they use to sell ads to their actual customers

Social media platforms with ideologies beyond the ground-level of profit may have additional reasons for the data they keep about you.

On the other hand, if your experience is too horrible, you might leave, and then they have 0 eyeballs from you. Thus, the platform's settings tend to give you a certain amount of control over various aspects of your information. What we'll be doing in today's program is looking at what Facebook's settings allow you to control. Depending on time and the interests of participants, we may also do the same for other platforms.

Image credits:
Posting and sharing on distributed social networks
By Gergely
License: Donated to the Public Domain via CC0

• Are your apps not behaving?
• Are your passwords getting out of control?
• Do you have questions about whether to install the latest system upgrade?
• Or are there other things about your tech devices you'd like to learn about or get straightened out?

Every Tuesday, Pete—Maxwell’s tech librarian—has an open session for drop-in assistance with technology issues and problems.
Whether your questions are about something new, something new to you, or something that’s been on your mind for a while, stop by at our Reference Desk for one-on-one help.
Questions before you stop in? Email Pete at pete@maxwellmemoriallibrary.org.

Free. No registration.

The Maxwell Memorial Library Board of Trustees meets on the third Monday of the month at 6 p.m. unless stated otherwise. The annual meeting is held in October. The Board does not meet in July or December. The public is welcome to attend. If you would like to request a topic to be put on the agenda, please contact director Jennifer Burke at least one week before the meeting. The agenda is posted online one week before.

For adults 18 and older.

Make It @ Maxwell craft program for adults usually meets on the fourth Saturday of the month, but day and time can vary based on other activities. Check the calendar.

Free. Registration is required.