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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Proceed with Caution!
One of the hardest lessons I've learned from being an active user of sites like Myspace and Facebook is how to put out the best image of myself for the world to see. I, like most college students, enjoy the occasional social outing and like to take pictures to remind myself of the days when everything was easy... The problem is, come Sunday morning, those pictures might not showcase my most attractive qualities.
Keeping your profile set to "private" or "friends-only"' is the first step to separating your social life from the professional, classy side of yourself you want everyone to know and love. In addition, do not accept friend requests from people that you do not know or do not want to associate with. Having promotional companies for nightclubs on your Top Friends, for example, may not look very appealing to a pencil-pusher boss. In addition, when your profile reads that you plan to attend a "Pimps 'n Hoes" party or a "Get Tanked!" night at the bar, your boss may not be so appreciative of your late night lifestyle.
The main thing to keep in mind with any networking site is that people will only see a two-dimensional version of you. The pictures that you understand as being appropriate to the occasion may not appear so when the viewer does not have a life-size explanation to go with it. The best you can do is keep it classy and remember to always monitor the things you put out there for everyone to see.
Labels: professionalism, security, social networking websites
Posted by Amanda on 12/12/2008 12:38:00 AM
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WARNING: THIS ACCOUNT HAS BEEN COMPROMISED
The web is glutted with social networking sites, blogs, email clients, discussion boards, and a vast array of other professional and recreational tools. For every one of these, there are a thousand hackers, scammers, and pranksters willing to take advantage of their vulnerabilities. Therefore, with each Internet community you join, security becomes exponentially more important.
Username and password diversity are two of the most simple yet crucial precautions you can take in order to secure your online (and real-world) identity. Anybody with access to something as trivial and easy to obtain as your instant messaging password could hold the key to your email, university, and online banking accounts. Be proactive and prepare unique name/password combinations for each of your online profiles, change passwords frequently, and report any suspicious activity immediately. It may seem like a pain, but it isn't so rough when you consider the alternative - possible social and economic ruin. Play it safe, people!
Labels: hackers, passwords, scammers, security, social networking
Posted by Brian on 10/24/2008 02:48:00 PM
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Crime
On October 31st, (Halloween Night) about two buildings away, a group of girls were held to gun-point and robbed of there belongings.
Never in a million years did I think that in our apartment complex something like this would happen. Fortunately, they were not harmed, but it sent a shock across campus. Now, people are scared to live around here, especially girls.
We are now taking more safety precautions to ensure our protection. It is scary to think, it could have easily been our apartment that was robbed. This incident was in the media which has put a bad reputation next to our apartment complex. A positive thing which has come from this is more strict security however, many students, including myself, are fearful it will occur again.
Labels: animation, apartment, robbery, security
Posted by Kelly on 11/04/2007 06:42:00 PM
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