Facebook Privacy

Privacy-Focused Guide To Joining Our Support Groups

Many people affected by sudden cardiac arrest find immense value in our private Facebook support groups, where thousands of survivors, family members, and healthcare professionals share experiences and support. We understand that privacy concerns might make some hesitant to join Facebook. Here’s how to participate while maintaining your privacy:

Create a Basic Facebook Account

To minimise your digital footprint while accessing our support community:

1. Sign up at Facebook.com using just the required information
2. Use a separate email address (e.g. Gmail or Outlook are free) for your Facebook account
3. Use a strong password that is difficult for others to guess. Consider using a password manager or vault to make this process easy and secure.
4. Consider using your first name and last initial only
5. Add a simple profile photo if comfortable (it could be a heart symbol or landscape)

Configuring Privacy Settings

After creating your account, immediately adjust these settings:

1. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Privacy
2. Change these key settings:

• Set “Who can see your future posts?” to “Only Me”
• Set “Who can look you up using your email/phone?” to “Only Me”
• Turn off search engine result linking
• Hide your friend’s list

See the Facebook help page for more on your privacy.

Joining Our Support Groups

Once your privacy settings are configured:

1. Visit the Join Us page to see which of our groups are right for you.
2. Click the button to join a group (or groups).
3. Answer the membership questions – we ask these to ensure a safe space
4. If you have a new and minimal profile, please contact us to let us know your request is genuine. We will reject applications if we think they aren’t genuine.
5. Wait for admin approval (usually within 24 hours)

Safe Group Participation

Our private groups are moderated safe spaces:

• Please read the rules and follow them (shown when you join)
• If you feel able, please share your story

And you can:

• Ask questions about recovery and rehabilitation
• Connect with others who understand your journey
• Access support from others who have walked your path
• Learn about our resources, the latest research and events

Our primary group, Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK, is focused on the survivor’s journey, and the Chain of Survival UK group is focused on the co-survivor and key supporters’ needs, i.e., partners, rescuers, and family. Many find it helpful to be a member of both, but please be mindful of each group’s focus.

Additional Privacy Tips

Remember to:

• Regularly review your privacy settings
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification step when logging in.
• Only share what you’re comfortable with
• Consider using Facebook through a web browser rather than the mobile app and close the session when not in use
• Please use the Anonymous post feature only when necessary
• Manage your Facebook notifications for the right level for you
• Log out after each session
• If you decide Facebook isn’t for you, you can easily deactivate or delete your account.
• Do not engage in direct/private messaging unless you have met the other person.

Need Help?

Please get in touch with us if you need assistance joining our groups or have privacy concerns. We’re here to help you access the support you need while feeling secure about your privacy.

Note: While these settings maximise your privacy from other users, remember that Facebook still has access to group interactions. Our groups are private, and content is only visible to members.