No, I won’t give it to you

For the past two days, Facebook has been especially irritating.  Every time I log on, I see this screen telling me my overall security protection is low.  I’ve checked and the settings are just where I want them.

If I click on the question mark that is at the end of this notice, it will tell me I can reach a “High” account control level by completing the following actions:

Confirm a mobile number
    Answer a security question

Well, my first problem with this is that I don’t want Facebook to have my cell phone number.  Google tries this on Gmail every so often as well.  The scare tactic is that I could be locked out of my account if I ever forget my password and they could send it to me by text message if they only had my telephone number.  Google has enough information on its users already.  I won’t provide them with my telephone number either.  As for forgetting my password, I have a sheet of paper here (somewhere) with all my access information for my email accounts (personal and business); Facebook and other accounts that require logging in.  All I need to do is shuffle some papers until I find it.  And further, since about the only place I access either Gmail or Facebook is from my home computer, why would my cell phone number be helpful.  Facebook already has two email addresses for me as it is.  They can send it to one of those.

As for a security question, I never remember the answers to those anyway, so why bother.

So, Facebook, Google and anyone else who asks for my cell phone number, I say this:  Don’t ask, the answer is “no. If I want you to have it, I’ll offer it.”

Enjoy the rest of your week and remember to hug an artist – we need love too.

Cat.