Manti Te’o Hoax, ‘Catfishing’ and Social Media: Ask a Patch Pro

Do you have questions about social media? Ask our Patch Pros by leaving a comment below.

By Kris Janisch
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January 22, 2013

Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o on the sidelines during an Oct. 20, 2012, game against BYU. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

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Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o on the sidelines during an Oct. 20, 2012, game against BYU.

Credit Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

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How well do you know your friends?

In light of the bizarre hoax involving star Notre Dame football player Manti Te’o and a renewed focus on online friendships, the topic for this week’s Patch Pro is social media.

This week’s Patch Pros are:

Lisa Genosky

Genosky is the owner and co-founder of Queen Bee Media. Queen Bee Media is a Twin Cities social media marketing agency.

Cherie DeBrule

DeBrule is the co-founder of the St. Paul Marketing Team. She designed the books Rise Above the Race and The Google Places Bible.

Ask your questions in the comments section below.

Related Topics: Catfishing, Experts, Manti Te'o, Patch Pro, Social Media, Tips, and catfish

Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.

Kris Janisch

10:20 am on Tuesday, January 22, 2013

I'll jump in here. So, I'm friends with people on Facebook who I've never met before. They're usually people who have some friends in common. Should I not be friending these people?

Lisa Genosky

1:56 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The answer is yes, 'Friending' on Facebook is okay when you have friends in common. It can grow your personal network and can create wonderful friendships.

You can make lists in Facebook and then add them to your lists. Make a list for people you don't know and title it not sure. Then see how it goes and if there is a red flag you can always delete them. As you get to know them move them to another list. I have a great article on Facebook lists for those of you who want to know how to do it. http://www.stpaulmarketingteam.com/blog/post/3470110

Before you add someone send a message. Adding more people especially if you have a business expands your network even to people you will never meet.

Susan

1:56 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013

How can one be sure that FaceBook is safe? I have some very smart friends who have had their email hacked. All have been on FaceBook and when one looks carefully, their passwords could have been figured out from the information found on their FaceBook pages. When I have pointed this out, they refuse to believe it as only their "friends" and relatives can see their information on their pages. Not everyone I know on FaceBook has been hacked, but about 75% of them have.

Between that and what is seemingly FaceBook's ever-changing privacy policy, I have resisted the urge to join. I have a small business and feel I should be on the site but I just don't trust it. Any advice? Thanks.

Cherie DeBrule

3:25 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013

@Susan It is important to change your password often to avoid being hacked. If you just put information you don't care is shared like funny cartoon or tips on your business, blog posts, etc. then there is no worry.

People should not announce when they are going on vacation so people don't go over and rob them.

Susan

1:56 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Do all the comments on this thread need to be approved or is this another glitch? I do hope that the updates/changes next month take care of this problem as about one in ten show up as "pending approval" now.