Hiding on Social Networks?

I've been seeing this for years and I have never understood it so I have begun to ask around. Why is it that people join social networks but keep their profiles super private or locked? Or why do people make it so that no one is able to find them on these social networks? Isn't the point of a social network for you to socialize, meet new people and keep in touch with people that you don't see everyday? Here's what I have to say about this....

If you're going to be on these social networks, no one says that you HAVE to put every single detail of your life on the site. For me, there are certain things that I would never share on Facebook and there are other things that I would never say on Twitter. However, if I do choose to share it on either site, then I do not care about who sees it! IF YOU DON'T WANT ANYONE TO SEE IT OR KNOW YOUR BUSINESS DON'T PUT IT ON THE SITE!!!! You would think that's simple and easy to understand but apparently people don't get that!

Some people say they do it because they don't want their jobs to see their pages and risk their jobs. But, just so you know, if your job really wanted to see what was on your page(s), they could certainly find ways to get past all the filters and locks that you think keep you so safe! There is software out there that can give them access to anything they want to see no matter what you have locked or hidden! And a lot of times, the jobs are not actually looking into your information. It's your co-workers who you think are your friends that go around laughing and joking about what you are posting and that's how your business is getting back to your supervisors!

Some other people say they do it because they have family or professionals on their friends list that they don't want to see their page. Well, here's what I want to know...why even approve them onto your friends list if you know you post things that you wouldn't want them to see? Did they put a gun to your head and say "approve my friend request"?!? Along with that, please understand that if someone really wanted to see the things on your profile, they don't have to necessarily be your friend! Sometimes people will know someone who's your friend and is on your friends list so they can just ask to see your profile from that person's page. I had a friend who would get on my computer to log in from my Facebook just to spy on one of the people that I was friends with on Facebook without that person knowing that my friend was spying on them. It's that easy!!!

The point of it all is this: If you don't want people to know or see something about you, just don't put it on a social network. Instead of trying to "hide" on these social networks, just be more careful of what you say and do so you will have no worries! I have been on Facebook since 2005 and I have NEVER had my page locked. Same applies to Twitter. If I put it out there, I don't care who sees it or what they have to say. That's the way everyone should feel about it!