Protect Yourself

Social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace are cesspools for drama-- there, I said it. Although I am a member of both communities and check my Facebook account more than is ever necessary, I am aware that these sites are a breeding ground for dirty laundry to be aired.

Privacy is no longer a privilege, it seems. Thanks to these websites, your neighbor's cousin's ex-boyfriend can read all about your weekend activities and see the pictures to prove it. Unless, of course, you are very cautious about what you put on your profile and who you become "friends" with.

When these sites first started, membership was more exclusive and it may have seemed fun to see how many friends from school you could find. But as both sites developed more applications and features, your privacy went right out the window. I can't tell you how many times someone's birthday has come up on my home page and I've asked myself, "Who?" That of course is followed by removing them from my friends list, but I can't be sure if damage has been done.

The best thing you can do is learn from others' experiences and understand that it is important to protect your privacy. Things like phone numbers, addresses and class schedules allow sensitive information to fall into the wrong hands. I think my best defense has been to stay safe and keep it private!

Labels: facebook, privacy, security

Posted by Amanda on 2/10/2009 12:19:00 PM
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K.I.T.-ing.

Keeping in touch, or K.I.T.-ing , has become significantly easier with the dawn of the internet. Gone are the days of the written letter or phone call. These days, it’s all about quickly and easily shooting your friend an email or instant message. You can easily K.I.T. with your old high school buddies and the new friends you’ve made in college, but even “easy” has drawbacks. The main drawback being: loss of privacy. Yes, it is easy and fun to post the pictures from last Saturday night and leave your friends comments with funny quotes they’ve said in their incoherent states. However, you must always be mindful that your friends are not the only people looking at your profile. The Internet has made it easy for everyone, including employers and stalkers, to keep track of the inner-workings of your days. They can see who you’re in a relationship with, what events you’re attending and the subsequent pictures from these events. They can see anything that you let them see. This just means some self-censorship is necessary. Utilize your privacy options. I do not know about you, but I would not want my potential employer knowing what I did last Saturday night. Seymour is right, there are simple ways to cut down the chances of potential employers/parents seeing things you do not want them to see. Just be aware that people are looking and everything you do/post is a reflection of who you are.

Labels: facebook, privacy, social networking

Posted by Jen on 10/09/2008 02:07:00 PM
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