Social Networking

What is Social Networking?

Social Networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace are part of the interactive web or "Web 2.0" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0) which allows users to upload and create content in profiles. These sites may incorporate blogs, podcasts, and photos in addition to contact information for registered users. A key feature of these sites is the ability to build a network of friends, either by inviting people to join the service or finding other registered users with similar interests.

What's the big deal?

Most of the news about Social networking services highlights the worst that these sites have to offer: sexual predators, indiscreet postings or other sexually explicit material. Don't be fooled though; most activity on these sites is harmless or even beneficial. These services offer benefits, such as networking with people in your chosen career, finding other people with similar interests or being the first to know about a favorite band or author's upcoming work.

However, if you're not careful there can be consequences. These sites can feel like private areas, but they are public forums. Don't put any information online that you wouldn't mind having on a billboard for everyone to see. Things you do and say on social networking sites can result in either positive or negative outcomes for you. Choose wisely.

What does this mean to you?

First, read the user agreement for whatever site you are signing up for. Know what the site can do with the content you put online and what behavior you are agreeing to by using the service. Many sites reserve the right to sell data to third parties for advertising; some sites retain ownership of any information posted to their site and can do whatever they want with it.
Learn about any privacy or security controls that the site has. Some sites allow you to limit who can see your profile and information you post. Use these settings effectively. Warning: Don't count on these settings to keep anyone from seeing items you post. Even with these protections nothing you put online is safe. There is always the potential for anything online to be made public—with or without your consent.
Think about what you do and say online. What would a hiring committee think of your membership in "Stumbling Drunks (Not So) Anonymous"? Don't post anything that you wouldn't be comfortable having your parents, potential employers, and instructors seeing.
What will your postings mean to you in ten years? Information on the Internet doesn't go away, so something you post now could come back and haunt you years from now, even if you delete it.

Things to think about

Don't take things you see at face value. There is no fact checking or identity verification, so be wary of everything you read and everyone you meet.
Assume that people you don't know and haven't "friended" are going to be looking at your profile if they can.
Avoid posting personal information. Keeping personal contact information (such as cell phone numbers, instant messenger screen names, class schedules and addresses) off of these sites reduces your chances of being harassed or victimized.
Ask for permission before posting pictures of your friends online. It's just common courtesy.