Recently, my home phone has been ringing off the hook with calls from telemarketers — healthcare, insurance, siding. The list was growing. Of course, we never answered these calls, thanks to Caller ID, but it’s annoying anyway. Like having a long line of traveling salesman waiting outside of your door, each of them just needing a moment of your time to change your life and lighten your pocketbook.

When the answering machine clicks on at our house what they hear is my toddler Jack saying, “You’ve reached the Bailey residence, leave a message.” A friendly, slamming door on their cold calling foot.

You’d think that would be enough. But no. They aren’t having it or they aren’t listening. And if you’ve ever tried to talk to one and tell them you’re not interested in their wonderful, amazing, remarkably inexpensive products you’re probably leaning as strongly as I do to the not listening choice. But for whatever reason, most of the time the telemarketers push past that clear indication that no human being is listening and begin to ask for my husband. Not only ask for him, but ask for him by name. And not only by name, but by his more familiar nickname.

Being a good and dutiful wife, the first time this happened I naturally assumed that my technologically naive husband was to blame and just knew that he’d been clicking on advertisement links online.

When he told me no I told him that he must have. Then I proceeded to give him the condescending “internet lecture” telling him not to click on any online ads or open any emails from a sender he didn’t know or recognize.

You can imagine how painful the fall from that high horse was when, in short order, I received one of these calls asking for me! With a little investigation I soon realized why this was happening, who was behind slathering the internet cold call sales lists with our names and number. And you know who that was? Our old friend, FACEBOOK! The stress relieving, try our free games and you won’t believe what your friends are actually posting, look it’s a dancing kitten Facebook. America’s new front porch was behind it all.

As if Mark Zuckerberg didn’t have enough money, power or control, he has made a deal to sell facebook user’s information to dreaded telemarketers. Now that individuals can buy stock in the social media giant, the company has had to prove to investors that it is a viable cash cow worth investing in, an entity that will remain stable and strong for years to come. And what better way to do that than selling out and annoying your customers?

Facebook is one of the largest databases of personal data ever compiled. Any time we post a picture, give our current location or tag a friend, we are sharing personal information with Facebook. Seemingly innocuous information that can tell marketers a lot about buying preferences and various personal interests and habits as consumers. They can track your buying history and target your personal interests and possible future purchases. Which isn’t inherently a bad thing. I don’t mind seeing products that might interest me in the margins, but there’s a line between suggesting and calling me. And Facebook is facilitating and profiting from helping people I wouldn’t invite into my home get into my home.

What can you do? Well, social media experts’ caution us to limit what we share online, notify our friends about our decision and have them do the same when it comes to information about our personal, private lives. Also, be sure to carefully read any information and updates from facebook about their privacy policies and your options for limiting the intrusion.

So before you post that next picture of an embarrassing moment or tag your current location, talk about that terrific gadget you finally had to have, you might want to think twice about who’s watching. That front porch is getting crowded and the intrusive irritation you avoid with a little thought and limitation might well be your own.

Joanna Bailey is the director of the Bay Minette Public Library. She can be reached at baileyvolumes@gmail.com