By Jeri Denniston, Chief Marketing Strategist, Denner Group International   July 8, 2013

Takeaways: The Facebook graph search tool is opened up to everyone today. If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s Facebook’s entry into the search arena. Change your privacy settings before you use the tool.

Facebook opens up its new graph search tool to everyone today, and this could mean another level of encroachment to your online privacy – unless you change key settings before you use the tool. The new graph search allows users to search every piece of data on Facebook – that means everything you’ve entered about your photos, your posts, your interests, etc. – could be available to those you don’t know unless you carefully change your privacy settings.

This Business Insider article by Kevin Smith walks you through the steps you should take to change your privacy settings before you use graph search.

Why should you care?

One reason is that your entire timeline is visible to everyone if you leave it public. That may not matter depending on what you’re posting and your reasons for being on Facebook. On the other hand, I know of people who have been “found” by people from their past whom they preferred not to re-connect with. So if you’re one of those, then review your privacy settings carefully.

Also review the photos and posts in which you’re tagged. Are you comfortable with those images being shown online? If not, then follow the steps to have them removed. Facebook has made it easier to do than in the past.

As always, remember that what you post online is there forever, so think carefully about the content you post before you share. This is especially important for young people who have their careers ahead of them. Future employers check out your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles before they hire you. Your past posts could be a reason you don’t get that job you really wanted. It’s a judgement call the employer makes when they consider job candidates. So think about he future consequences before you share that photo or dis someone or something. It could come back to bite you in the derriere!