Technology

You May Not Know It, but Facebook Changed Your Email: Here’s How to Change It Back

Facebook Changes Email Addresses Quietly But Users Were Warned

Here you can see a new @facebook.com address and the edit icon that will allow you to chose what email address shows up on your Timeline.

MENLO PARK, Calif. (The Blaze/AP) — You might not have noticed but over the weekend your contact email on the public side of your Facebook profile was changed to an @facebook.com address. Many were not pleased about this flip.

Facebook replaced the email address users chose when they signed up in an effort to allow them to communicate with outside email addresses via Facebook.

The changes were first pointed out by bloggers over the weekend and publicized by media outlets Monday, leading to gripes from users, usually on their Facebook pages.

The company said in a statement in April that it was “updating addresses on Facebook to make them consistent across our site.” Although the addresses were changed quietly, but the company is quick to point out they did let users know.

Facebook spokeswoman Jillian Stefanki said the site is also rolling out a setting that allows people to decide which email addresses to show on their pages.

“Ever since the launch of timeline, people have had the ability to control what posts they want to show or hide on their own timelines, and today we’re extending that to other information they post, starting with the Facebook address,” Stefanki said in an email late Monday.

Still, as Gizmodo puts it to the company, “Facebook, it’s probably safe to say that the way we all had our things before was the ‘choice’ we made about ‘which addresses…show on [our] timelines.‘ This wasn’t about choice—in fact, it was the opposite. You chose for us.”

Late last year, in a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, Facebook got slapped with 20 years of audits and a required “opt in” feature — as opposed to its usual opt out — for any changes it made to the privacy policy. Although the email switch was not associated with privacy features, many users would have preferred to opt in to use the @facebook.com address instead of having to manually change back to their preferred public email.

To change your @facebook.com email address, go to your profile page and access your contact information in the “about” section. Click the edit icon. At this point, you will have the option to “show” or “hide” the email addresses present in your profile on your Timeline. You can hide email completely from your Timeline, only make one address available on your public page, or provide multiple addresses.

Comments (49)

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  • RETIREDOLDGUY
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 5:06pm

    This is another good reason to cancel, delete your Facebook account – I did.

    Report Post »  
    • Itsnakemo
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 5:38am

      Good idea. I just never bought into it in the first place. But, most sheeple will keep posting on FB. Let Obama know what your up to.

      Report Post »  
  • Beyondculturewars
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 5:04pm

    I never chose the Timeline option, so I can’t edit my facebook email out of my profile, but my normal email is primary. I also noticed that I am now getting spam in my newsfeed, from Media Matters.

    I think they also add those 21 question apps and the photo of the day apps to low usage accounts, just to keep their numbers up. My Dad only uses Facebook to access the photos of kids, yet every day I get a new photo from his account.

    When my kids stop using FB, I’m outta there!

    Report Post »  
    • TRUTHandFREEDOM
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 6:13pm

      media matters in the newsfeed = forced Obama propaganda exposure.

      That is what this is all about. They just don’t quit!

      Can’t sell socialism in an open debate, so they keep using deceptive sales and slander (against Romney) tactics.

      Report Post »  
  • h20sue
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 4:52pm

    We stopped using FB because we’ve heard some dangerous “going on’s” and it wasn’t good.
    We tell those who we also email that we have canceled our FB account and please stop sending us photo’s or personal info.

    I think the “social media” has gotten well out of of hand. Too many dangerous people ruining a good thing. Not enough police to get pedifiles and criminals off the internet. Rather then take the chance…just stay off…..

    Report Post »  
  • Its Gonna Getcha
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 4:29pm

    Beware of any automization that is explained to be implemented for our “convenience”, especially from this administration.

    Report Post » Its Gonna Getcha  
  • le misanthrope
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 2:52pm

    Off topic, sorry, but does anyone know where I can get the quote Glenn used this morning about the U.N. and social justice. My son is being forced into a social justice class in college and I need the U.N.’s own words for him to use against the teacher, and to make sure he fully understands social justice. Thanks anyone who can help!

    Report Post »  
  • Mr. H.
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 2:41pm

    Arrogance was part of the reason I suspended my Facebook account. Security was another good reason. When Facebook put out that “Timeline” profile they connected way too many previously mostly isolated web presences. Now, anyone that gets your Facebook account name can get your address, cell phone number, and where you work, no matter how you set your privacy. All because so much is now connected via Facebook. Don’t believe me, Google your Facebook account name, your name, and the left side of the @ in your email address. Got yah!

    Report Post »  
  • MaeMee
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 2:17pm

    I hate every time you think you know what you are doing on Facebook — they add a new stupid default change that manages to worm its way into your info. I have been toying with the idea about quitting it – It takes a real Facebook nerd to work with this thing. Whatever happen to regular email to people. – It is much more persona,l and everyone else and their brother doesn’t have to see everything you are doing. I think Fadcebook will eventually IMPLODE on itself.

    Report Post »  
  • FemaleBizOwnerMom
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 1:18pm

    Get ready for the Spam! Here it comes………………….!

    Report Post » FemaleBizOwnerMom  
  • DTOM31
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 1:02pm

    I only joined Facebook to post stuff to either educate or piss off my liberal friends. It’s quite a valuable tool in that sense.

    Report Post » DTOM31  
    • MaeMee
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 2:24pm

      me too. But I find that many of my liberal friends have “defriended” me. They “can’t handle the TRUTH”!!

      Report Post »  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 5:08pm

      True here, too. The liberal friend told me that they don’t consider Glenn Beck a credible source, just because I sent a link from the Blaze.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • LIBERTARIAN T38
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 7:31pm

      I have a very liberal friend who until last week (1.5 years into the scandal) had no idea what Fast and Furious was…and she’s a Mexican lesbian!!! Liberals can insulate themselves from bad news but conservatives get liberalism everywhere…just look at a newspaper and the headlines are liberal…sit in a Dr’s office and look at all the liberal “news” mags with things like, “If the Republicans don’t kill all of the children first, Global Warming will” on the covers. Listen to talk radio and hear ads for food stamps or other welfare programs, or ABC news announcing how great the recovery is going (you will NEVER hear criticism of Obama in the liberal news). Liberal news keeps blaming Europe for our economy, even though Europe has the exact economy Obama wants. Hell, pay property taxes for someone else‘s kids’ school while struggling to put your kids through private, non-liberal school.

      Report Post » LIBERTARIAN T38  
  • MRMANN
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 12:33pm

    Just another reason for me to be glad I never joined Facebook.

    Report Post »  
  • nothinghere
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 12:19pm

    so this is what passes as privacy(freedom) in america today, i consider facebook-google an arm of the o’bama empire just as,jp mogan,and four or five more big banks,the fed.,and treasury.
    one can only assume this change will save facebook billions of dollars in tracking exspenses,and make it easier to identify all of us racist.
    but when your friends with the king of america,you can pretty much do what you want.

    Report Post »  
  • forthepeople
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 12:04pm

    $ MONEY $ Once again money ruins another great idea , more like the money people who to justify there jobs fix things that are not broken .

    Report Post » forthepeople  
  • sbmmomma
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 11:24am

    I can’t change mine. Sent e-mail at one of my kids, maybe he can do something.

    Report Post »  
  • CPLGEORGE
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 11:24am

    My primary email hadn’t changed, must not be important enough.

    Report Post » CPLGEORGE  
    • DarkWolf
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 12:58pm

      Neither did mine! I must not be important either.

      Report Post »  
    • chazmo
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 1:39pm

      no that’s not the point… they hide your real email from your timeline and put the bogus Facebook email as showing on your timeline.. just go into there and edit the facebook email to not show on your timeline.

      Report Post » chazmo  
  • lukerw
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 10:34am

    While Processors & Compilers are based upon Science… the Bus Structure & Progamming is based upon Art… and the Artists implement according to their Desires, seeminly being quite Fascist!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • Freedombeliever
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 10:06am

    I cancelled my Facebook account a few months ago. It’s nothing but a time vampire. Now with all this stuff forced on users – timeline and now this – I expect more people will get fed up an cancel their accounts.

    Report Post » Freedombeliever  
    • epicwinofgod
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 10:36am

      Heh, you read my mind. After reading this I’ve decided to dump it. Bye bye Face Theft.

      Report Post » epicwinofgod  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 9:33am

    Got out of facebook years ago over the same sort of crap…Short em danno…short the stock.

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 9:28am

    Facebook is one step closer to becoming government run and occupied as Obama wants.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • kickagrandma
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 9:54am

      Yep! Never have liked it.

      Report Post »  
    • Lone Wolf 71730
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 9:55am

      Facebook is an extension of the arm of the Obama goon squad…
      They monitor their users and block those that are anti-Obama in anyway…
      They basically just want to shut us up unless our message is the same as their’s.
      Look at the page; “Facebook Staff” … they are mostly people of color and hate our guts.

      Report Post » Lone Wolf 71730  
    • Lone Wolf 71730
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 9:59am

      Everyone needs to check out the pages called “Facebook Staff”…
      They are ALL racist against whites. They are the spies of Obama.

      Report Post » Lone Wolf 71730  
  • rpp
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 9:15am

    Facebook is a fevered nightmare of George Orwell. Stay away or be assimilated by the Ministry of Love and Ministry of Truth (or the Borg, depending on how you look at such things.)

    Report Post » rpp  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 10:10am

      Resistance isn’t always futile. I dumped my FB account years ago and haven’t missed it.

      Report Post » biohazard23  
  • caleejr
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 9:14am

    What the French – toast. They did!

    Report Post » caleejr  
  • TheAnswerIs42
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 9:13am

    Things like this are the perfect example of why I don’t use Facebook anymore and never plan to again.

    Report Post » TheAnswerIs42  
  • Amy
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 9:10am

    I stopped using Facebook years ago because the system appeared corrupt – most likely because of the 3rd party applications–insufficient warnings–privacy concerns.

    Report Post » Amy  
  • justasurvivor
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 9:06am

    When I tried to load FB now, all I got was a page of script like this:

    Facebook.sidebarMode #chatFriendsOnline, .sidebarMode #fbDockChatBuddylistNub.fbNub, .sidebarMode #fbChatErrorNub{display:none}
    .sidebarMode #pageHead, .sidebarMode #globalContainer{left:-102px;position:relative}
    .sidebarMode .liquid #globalContainer{margin:0 102px}
    .sidebarMode .fbDockWrapper{right:205px}
    .sidebarMode.theaterMode .fbDockWrapper{right:220px}

    Report Post »  
  • justasurvivor
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 9:02am

    Dude – you just crashed facebook!

    Report Post »  
  • single stack
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 9:01am

    Facebook won’t let me edit my contact info at all.

    Report Post »  
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