Facebook & MySpace WISDOM
Enjoy the fun of social networking, but be smart about what you share.
Posting on-line (such as Blogs, Facebook, MySpace, etc.) is PUBLIC, not PRIVATE
Ask yourself:
Would I still post it if it was on a main public bulletin board on campus?
If it were published in my hometown newspaper?
If I knew a potential employer might see it?
If someone passed the info or photo on to my parents?
If I knew my Professors might see it? My Coach? My Advisor? Campus Police?
Identity thieves want:
Your photo:
Especially a nice head shot they can use to make a fake ID.
Your birth date:
Even if you just give a month and day, they can figure out the year you were born if you list your high school graduation year.
Numbers:
Social Security, School ID, Credit Cards, Bank Accounts, etc.
Your address
Are you going to make it easy for them?
Policy, rule, or law violations, unethical behavior
Consider the potential consequences. University Faculty, Staff, and Alumni are on the internet too(including Facebook and MySpace). If they come across evidence of illegal activities, policy violations, or unethical behavior, you can be held accountable.
Embarrassment and Reputation
Information posted can follow you around for years to come.
This is true even if you remove the photos or info. Someone else may already have copies or may have distributed embarrassing facts and photos elsewhere on the internet.
Potential Employers
Is there anything in your profile that could come back to haunt you? Employers have looked up potential job candidates on-line before making hiring decisions. Is there something out there about you that may jeopardize your chance of being hired?
Be Cautious
Be cautious of who you add to your friends list. Be cautious of emails received from Administrators or Support (of any webservices) asking for information (Social Security number, etc.). Create a secure password using letters (both upper and lowercase) and numbers.
Stalkers and Thieves
Is it a wise idea to post your class schedule on-line?
Not only will people know where you are, they will also know where you “aren’t”.
Take time to consider the potential consequences of posting your whereabouts.
Privacy
Websites may have privacy policies but that doesn’t prevent people with access (other members of Facebook and MySpace, for example) from re-distributing your information elsewhere on the internet. Take care not to be lulled into a false sense of security by privacy policies.
Facebook Note
Facebook has recently changed its format. Now there is a News Feed and a Status setting. The newsfeed tracks actions friends take in their facebook. Be cautious about what information you place in the status.
