Manage which ads you see
It's no secret that when you use Facebook, you are the product being sold. Your browsing history and Facebook activity help advertisers better target you, and Facebook makes a killing off of this ability.
Thankfully, Facebook has given you control over which ads you see. You can even set custom categories to help refine the ads presented to you. Hey, if you're going to see them either way, you may as well make sure they're relevant to your interests.
With that in mind, take a look at how to control which ads you see.
Editors' note: This post was originally published July 14, 2014. It has since been updated with new information.
Control who sees your posts
Whenever you post something online, be it to Facebook or elsewhere, you should always be sure you know who can see it.
Sometimes, it's not clear who exactly can see what you've posted on Facebook. Lance Whitney explains the settings and how to manage who sees what on your Facebook account.
Block your ex, annoying app invites
After a bad breakup or 20 app invites in a single day, blocking a person (or app) may be a necessary step to help you stay sane.
Dan Graziano shows you how easy it is to block users and apps, keeping your Facebook feed clutter- and creeper-free.
Five minutes or less
Intimidated by all of the options found within Facebook's settings? Fear not, my fine-looking digital friend.
We have a post that walks you through tuning up your Facebook security in just 5 minutes. Sorry, but we can't offer a free pizza if it takes longer.
Lists are the best
Facebook likes to tinker with your News Feed, often hiding the most recent feed, ensuring you see only what the network curates on your behalf.
Thankfully, there's a dead simple workaround for the curation process so you can take control.
Read more about creating your own Facebook list to ensure you never miss a friend's updates again.
You have a hidden inbox
When you're locking your Facebook account down, you might accidentally make it too secure. One such example is the second inbox Facebook gives every user.
Messages sent from users you don't know often end up here -- in some instances messages from people you do know will also end up here.
Rick Broida not only shows you where to find your "Other" inbox, but he walks you through making sure messages get to the right place.
More security details
Have more than 5 minutes to spare? Check out Dennis O'Reilly's comprehensive guide covering what you need to know about keeping your personal information safe.
Yes, we are really driving home how important it is to keep your information secure when using Facebook. It's just because we care.