Would you give your phone number to facebook friends?
By agonyaunt69
@agonyaunt69 (343)
Hong Kong
December 7, 2009 1:45pm CST
We are often warned not to give our personal details to people in the cyber world, as it is difficult to really understand the others in this unreal communities. How can we distinguish who is telling the truth or who is lying? How can we trust people there? What are the risks if giving our phone number to our facebook friends? Could people here really be friends or everything here is so unreal?
I do not know how to separate my feelings to the real world's friends and the friends in cyber world though I have been told to do so, as I am a true person. I do not like lying but at the same time, it might be a bit hard for me to know if others are really caring about me, really want to make friend with me. If everything here needs to be so alert, then how can we make true friends? How can we communicate with others if we should not use our whole heart? Does it mean it is hardly possible to have real friends here in the cyber world? If yes, why we still chat with friends in facebook or MSN?
It would be much apprepriated if you can share your views with me. Thank you.
Agonyaunt69
(3:42am Tuesday 8 Dec 2009, Hong Kong time)
16 responses
@erickd80 (12)
• Indonesia
15 Dec 09
hmm.. i only give my number to girls, expecially hot one hehe,, but dont give them up so easily,, u shud know him/her better first,, u dont wanna end up by some psycho calling u everyday every minute or sms u everytime, thats tiring :),,, theres 1 girl actually i never regret i gave number to, theres this girl i know from a game on facebook, and we keep contact, then 1st step is u must contact through YM/MSN 1st, u will get to know better in there, then when i know all bout her i finally gave my number/i ask her's,, its still new actually, i just gave my number last nite :D,, what a coincidence eh.
@eddify (412)
• Pakistan
12 Dec 09
Thats true for everyone. I dont feel comfortable with giving out my cell number to people I meet online. I usually give them my landline office number. Knowing too well they cant speak to me for long and if possile I ask them to meet me at a public place or in the office , so I feel protected and then if I am comfortable I will give out the numbe rotherwise I dont.
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
9 Dec 09
Hi agony!
It is really perplexing question whether one should share one's number with cyber friends or refrain from it. I think one needs to take a decision in this regard on case to case basis and based on one's own wisdom and experience. If you have Face Book friends, who are also related to you directly or indirectly in real life, then you may give your telephone number to them, based on the quality and depth of interaction with them. However, if someone is only a cyber friend, then one should think carefully, whether it would be safe to give the telephone number. If you do not feel comfortable sharing your telephone number with cyber friends, you have full liberty and discretion not to disclose your number. I would say till you are very sure about a person and your mind and heart tells that s/he is a genuine person, then you may give the number.
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
8 Dec 09
Yes because I'm pretty sure that all of my facebook friends are people that I've all met in real life and have known for a while or they are people that I know enough to already have my cell phone number. I don't want my phone number going out to too many people though so I'll probably just keep it how it is and let my friends have my number and if someone else need's to get a hold of me then they can start trying because that's all it really takes to get a hold of someone.
@lynkshadow (299)
• Canada
8 Dec 09
No way, I would give it to my real friends. People I have actually met in real life. And if for some reason you do make a friend online that you feel you trust give your cell phone, it can't be traced to your address and it can be changed or disconnected easily.
@SharonJohnson (459)
• United States
9 Dec 09
I have given my number to my friends on facebook. I would not feel comfortable giving it to a stranger. I find the friends I went to school with are fine.
@topflame (43)
• Sri Lanka
8 Dec 09
well i recomend not putting ur cell no on facebook. u can chat be friends inly online for a month or two, test the friend in a hundred differint ways. and if ur are sure he or she is a god person then u can message ur 4n no to he/she. u can put ur cell no. if u r totally exclusive , and do not accept da random friend requests. but in this case since u want to make new friends this is totally inappropriate, right.
@chookie1971 (2271)
• Australia
7 Dec 09
I do not have my details on public display. I choose to give out my number to people who I would like to give it too. It is mainly people I know well or family. As to people I don't know, I won't give my number out. It is far too risky.
@Downwindz (2537)
• Netherlands
7 Dec 09
None of my personal contact information is on my facebook profile, my true friends know how to get in contact with me ;) Either by phone, e-mail or real mail...
@Preciousgem (1182)
• Philippines
8 Dec 09
In my case they gave their number to me, just to text them, and sometimes i am the one who gave my number to them, if i really know that person, most of the people get some text mate an searching a number, by calling and texting.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Dec 09
Hi
The only friends I have on Facebook (as an example) are friends I have in the real world...and not all of them have my telephone number.
Having said that, I met my husband on the internet. It's all a question of trust. We communicated online for at least a month before we met.
Some people will want you to be their friend just so they can add you to their list. I always ignore friend requests. If I only have about 6 friends on my list so be it. I'd rather have that than a load of people I don't know.
@dudemanw10 (58)
• United States
7 Dec 09
lol no i would never give my phone number to my facebook friends primarily because they prolly would go out get drunk and prank call and i hate when ppl prank call and you would always get numbers you dont know and it would just get really annoying after a while then id have to hunt them down and kill them lol
@krystalheart (842)
• Philippines
7 Dec 09
Hi there. In my opinion, it is not best to give your personal number to anyone whom you do not trust especially in the cyber world. Sad to say but in this present world, some people are taking advantage to others' kindness and trust. Nowadays, it is really hard to trust anyone in the cyber world especially you were not able to know and see those people personally. It is better to be wise than to be nice sometimes.
@Nameless_ (1180)
• Australia
7 Dec 09
It really depends on the person that you are talking to. I mean, if it is just some random friend that just randomly added you as a friend and wants your approval and you approved it, then I really wouldn't give my telephone number to a stranger. On the other hand, if it is one of your close friends that you see everyday and you know that they are not the stalker type, then I would, considering that they might need your telephone number in case of emergencies for a function or event or something like that.
Cheers, Nameless_
