The catch is that it is not optional any longer.  The rollout will take place over the next few weeks, so it’s time to get on board and review your profile page to ensure it will look as you want it to.  It isn’t all bad, and some of us may even learn to like it. Here is what you need to know to transition safely.

• All posts will default to PUBLIC. Review your new and past posts.  During each post, ensure you check the inline audience selector and switch it as needed (to friends, etc.) so only who you want to see that information, can see it. If you are ever concerned you mis-marked previous posts, you can see how your Timeline looks to others by clicking the gear icon below your cover image and selecting “View As”.  You can change past posts globally through your Privacy Settings or individually by clicking the pencil icon next to each post.
• To make sure your past posts are limited to friends, click on the small arrow on the top right corner of your Timeline. Then go to Privacy Settings >Limit the Audience for Past Posts >Manage Past Post Visibility and select Limit Old Posts. Alternately, you can change the audience by clicking on the small pencil icon at the top right of individual posts to edit or hide them from the Timeline.
• You have 7 days to review your new Timeline.  Once you make the switch to Timeline (by choice or Facebook’s rollout), you only have 7 days to make any changes you need before other people see it (e.g. managing post visibility).
• To rollout the Timeline yourself visit Facebook’s Timeline profile page, and click Get Timeline in the lower right corner.
• Facebook wants to know more about you.  Facebook has many suggestions for how you can back fill your Timeline. You can add information from the past in such categories as “Work & Education”, “Family & Relationships”, and so on.  Simply click on the “Life Event” in your status bar and add away.  This actually isn’t all bad, you might enjoy posting life events from your past and allowing others to look at it, sort of like an online scrap book.  Keep in mind, however, the more information you put up, the more information Facebook is collecting on you, and the more information people can find about you.
• Is security a concern? Your personal information is very valuable to you, and to criminals.  Keep that in mind when posting personal information.

Check out Facebook’s information on the new Timeline profile page.

Have additional questions? Contact us or check out the Facebook Help Center.

What are SOPA and PIPA?

• SOPA, a.k.a. the Stop Online Piracy Act, is a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives and PIPA, aka. the Protect IP Act, is a bill in the U.S. Senate.  Both are aimed at limiting piracy and copyright infringements, with a main target on foreign websites.  We most often hear of copyright infringements on media (e.g. TV, movies, music), but it also applies to counterfeit medication and consumer goods. An example of such site is The Pirate Bay (thepiratebay.org).
• The legislation has two methods to fight piracy. The first method is requiring Internet Service Providers (or ISPs) to block access to infringing domains.  Thus people like you and I cannot access it. The second method would be limiting funding to the infringing sites via court orders to disable search engines directing to that site, or advertisers and payment providers working with those sites.
• Want to read the bills?
  • SOPA
  • PIPA

That sounds great, so what’s the issue?

• The main issue is what happens if a site is ear-marked as infringing on copyrighted materials, but in actuality it is not.  No one gets hurt except the site, and that can cause major damage. Many argue that this bill does not do enough to protect against false accusations. This could be used as an excuse to censor websites, potentially for no solid reason.
• The most general issue is that there are concerns that this bill would increase operating costs and limit innovation. Higher operating costs means either you increase end user costs, or innovation and expansion within the technology communities is reduced.

The SOPA and PIPA timeline

• May 12, 2011 – PIPA introduced to Senate
• October 26, 2011 – SOPA introduced to House of Representatives
• December 2, 2011 – OPEN act was introduced as an alternative to SOPA and PIPA
• December 2011 to January 2012 – major discussions surrounding both pieces of legislation. Some parts were removed, representatives and senators have taken sides. Protests took place with major sites going dark in anti-SOPA and anti-PIPA support. President Obama even weighed in.
• January 18, 2012 – 48 senators support  PIPA, 6 are against it, 46 are unknown, and there are 40 co-sponsors; 32 representatives support SOPA, 25 are against, and 376 are unknown.
• There is still a long way to go.

Stay tuned for more information in the coming months!