Update on the Facebook iPhone App Contact Sync

19Jan/100

Update on an earlier Facebook post (iStockphoto)

A few days ago, I wrote a post about a new feature in the Facebook iPhone App that syncs your iPhone contact list with Facebook profile pictures and links to Contacts.

To their credit, Facebook warns users with the following text:

If you enable this feature, all contacts from your device (name, email address, phone number) will be sent to Facebook and be subject to Facebook's Privacy Policy, and your friends' profile photos and other info from Facebook will be added to your iPhone address book. Please make sure your friends are comfortable with any use you make of their information. (Emphasis Added)

I wouldn't recommend it, but this is how you activate the feature (Thanks to The Wife for the tip!):

Go to the Facebook iPhone home screen. This screen features three rows of icons for your News Feed, Profile, Friends, etc.
Select the "Friends" icon.
In the upper right hand corner, press the "Sync" button.
Turn on "Syncing"
Turn on "Replace Photos"

Personally, I wouldn't do this. I'd rather not send any more information to Facebook than I absolutely need to. However, this also means that Facebook users have to be much more careful about what you show in your Facebook profile picture. It may end up as someone's contact photo for your contact entry.

Action Item

If the Facebook app asks to sync your contacts with Facebook, say no!
Tell me about your experience with the iPhone Facebook app. Does all this make you want to quit Facebook altogether? Comment in the comments section of this post or send me an e-mail!

If you find my website helpful, you will love the FREE Electronically Obsessed newsletter. I periodically send out tech tips and tech deals that I don't cover on the main website. Sign up in the e-mail for in the sidebar or click here for more information!

Subscribe and Share!

As always, if you find this post helpful, please feel free to subscribe using a RSS reader. You'll be one of the first to know when I update the site with more tips and tricks to streamlining your life with the Internet. Also, feel free to share this post on Twitter, Facebook, Delicious, Digg, Buzz, or any other social bookmarking site using the "Share" icon below!