FACEBOOK HAS BEGUN rolling out changes to its users’ accounts – changing the default email displayed on their profiles to ones they may not even know about.

Previously, Facebook users who chose to display an email address on their profiles were able to easily control which one was shown to them – which can be handy for some people who like to be able to advertise their contact details on the site.

In the last few days, though, Facebook has been changing this – substituting the default email with another one, username@facebook.com.

Most Facebook users might not even be aware of this address – but that’s been a service since late 2010, when Facebook revamped its messaging system to include a direct email service.

That allows Facebook users to send emails from their account (in exactly the same way that you can send emails), and to receive them at their @facebook.com email address.

Now, that @facebook.com email address has been placed as the ‘default’ email on users’ accounts – a move which may seem relatively harmless (and, indeed, shield your ‘real’ email address in case you didn’t know it was public).

The kicker, though, is that for anyone who uses the public details to find your address will only have your Facebook one – meaning they will email your Facebook account instead of your regular one, ultimately bringing you back to the Facebook site and making you spend more time there.

If that’s something you’re bothered about, here’s how to change it: