Are YOU Part

of the

Phenomenon?

What you can do with facebook:What you can do with facebook:• You can see where old You can see where old

faces wound upfaces wound up• Students can establish Students can establish

friendships through friendships through common interestscommon interests

• Connect with people in Connect with people in your classesyour classes

• NetworkNetwork

Downside to Facebook: Downside to Facebook: PrivacyPrivacy

Privacy options pertain only to blocking entire Privacy options pertain only to blocking entire profiles, or limiting certain information such profiles, or limiting certain information such as phone numbers and screen names to as phone numbers and screen names to friends or students only. Users can create friends or students only. Users can create secret groups that are invitation only, but secret groups that are invitation only, but public groups are open to all Facebook users public groups are open to all Facebook users at that university. Additionally, those in other at that university. Additionally, those in other university networks who are friends with a university networks who are friends with a single user can click around groups, read the single user can click around groups, read the message boards and see who has joined the message boards and see who has joined the group—even if the member’s profile is set to group—even if the member’s profile is set to private. private.

Be careful with personal information:Be careful with personal information:

Many students include a lot of information, much of it quite Many students include a lot of information, much of it quite personal, in their individual profiles.  Information such as cellular personal, in their individual profiles.  Information such as cellular phone numbers, room numbers or addresses, class schedules, phone numbers, room numbers or addresses, class schedules, personal websites, pictures and job information often are readily personal websites, pictures and job information often are readily available for “Friends” to view. Many students are not very available for “Friends” to view. Many students are not very discriminating regarding who they designate as Friends, often discriminating regarding who they designate as Friends, often granting this designation to people they have just met or to granting this designation to people they have just met or to Friends of Friends. This practice can put students in a vulnerable Friends of Friends. This practice can put students in a vulnerable position when so much personal information is available. position when so much personal information is available. 

The Facebook also is used as a way to meet people and for The Facebook also is used as a way to meet people and for dating.  Students are sometimes naïve and may be duped by dating.  Students are sometimes naïve and may be duped by another Friend’s profile, especially if they’ve just met the person another Friend’s profile, especially if they’ve just met the person or don’t really know them. Students need to be careful about or don’t really know them. Students need to be careful about going to meet other people in person when they only “know” going to meet other people in person when they only “know” the other person from online contact.the other person from online contact.

Last bit of Advice:Last bit of Advice:

You need to be aware of how your You need to be aware of how your personal information might be used by personal information might be used by others, If you engage in ANY illegal others, If you engage in ANY illegal behavior—whether you post it on behavior—whether you post it on Facebook or not—you are putting yourself Facebook or not—you are putting yourself at risk not only of Student Code of Conduct at risk not only of Student Code of Conduct charges, but much more in terms of the charges, but much more in terms of the achievement of your personal and achievement of your personal and educational goalseducational goals

Things to think about for the future:Things to think about for the future:

Students will be students, of course -- but students Students will be students, of course -- but students should beware. Employers have caught wind of this should beware. Employers have caught wind of this new national pastime of their entry-level job new national pastime of their entry-level job candidates. In fact, a student at Vermont Technical candidates. In fact, a student at Vermont Technical College recently had a job offer rescinded by an College recently had a job offer rescinded by an employer who saw the student's Facebook profile. employer who saw the student's Facebook profile.

Career centers are increasingly concerned that Career centers are increasingly concerned that students do not understand the consequencesstudents do not understand the consequences of posting questionable material in the public domain of posting questionable material in the public domain -- which may be retrievable by online search engines -- which may be retrievable by online search engines for years to come -- and are taking steps to educate for years to come -- and are taking steps to educate students. This can even include the "patrolling" of students. This can even include the "patrolling" of students' online profiles, raising questions about students' online profiles, raising questions about privacy and freedom of speech. privacy and freedom of speech.

Be careful of what you post Be careful of what you post you never know who may see you never know who may see

it…it…

Future EmployersTeachers

Family (Parents) Government Officials

By: Jennifer PineauBy: Jennifer Pineau

Community AdvisorCommunity Advisor

Plymouth State UniversityPlymouth State University

Plymouth, NHPlymouth, NH