Well. I'm not sure why I really use Facebook. Is it because I love "stalking" people? Or is it because it's easiest way for me to keep in touch with friends? Or do I love putting all my weekend photos up for everyone to see? Of course as my mom would say, "My generation did the same things you guys are doing, but we didn't publish our lives on Facebook." We live in a completely different world compared to our parents. The technology and constant connection to Internet that we have makes us obsessed with knowing things at the exact moment. We don't have any patience. We can upload sixty pictures in a Facebook album in less than two minutes. Of course, this applies to more than just Facebook.
We can Google a question like, "Where can I find jobs in the Rochester, NY area?" In .3 seconds I received 2,650,000 results. Our generation turned "google" into a verb.
Or this is a good one too... There is a service called Cha-Cha. The number is 242-242. You can text this number any question you have from, from being lost and needing directions to needing to know if there is a new episode of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice on. Cha Cha will text you back within three to five minutes. The only charge is your standard text messaging fee.
We can hop online during class with a cellphone to get an answer for a professor. We can cheat on tests, quizzes just by using our phones. We have access to technology that our parents gawk at.
So, what's wrong with Facebook?
The world wide web creates an alternative reality. Facebook makes it harder to define our social lives from our academic lives because now it's not as simple as going out on the weekend, having a good time and then going back to class on Monday and being that stellar student. Now it's much more complicated. What you do on the weekends is publicized on Facebook. If you make a bad decision and someone has it on camera, you can bet you won't be living it down for a LONG, LONG time. If you are shaking your head right now, thinking "Oh no, I never do anything stupid," please, please, remember that you're sitting behind your computer and it's okay to admit it. We've all done it. We're college students; we're learning about life. Our parents did it too. Our professors caused just as much trouble. Oh yeah, and those future employers? They probably got into a little trouble in college as well. It's a part of life, but we're on a fine line. Our stupid acts, our bad decisions are on Facebook. Is it public information to the people we hang out with, the professors who brave the Facebook world, and to the employers who check students before they hire them? We are putting it out there for all kinds of people to see.
Here's the real question: Do you honestly want some of those tagged pictures? Sometimes everyone has a little too much fun. Sometimes we all do those stupid things. So, why? WHY do we leave pictures like that tagged? Because we're college students. We love pictures, we love documenting everything we do, and most of all we LOVE seeing it on Facebook. Using Facebook appropriately is great. It is a great tool for networking and keeping in touch. But please, use some Facebook etiquette....
Number 1
Be thoughtful of what your profile picture is. That doesn't mean it needs to be your high school senior picture or something boring like that, but your use judgement. If you are underage college student you probably don't want to be holding a beer or doing something inappropriate. According to an article on http://www.pcworld.com/ you don't want profile pictures that are "too sexy, cartoonish or that might alienate your audience." Look through your friend list really quickly. You'll start making some assumptions about people just by what their profile pictures are.
Number 2
Be careful when filling our your information section. It's okay to put some personal information out there, but you should keep your religious beliefs and political beliefs to yourself.
Number 3
Many users never glance to the privacy page of Facebook, but there are some important things there. You should make sure your Facebook is private to your friends. It can be completely public, semi-public, just open to networks and etc. But, make sure you know who can see your profile.
Number 4
Be courteous. If you have an extremely embarrassing picture of someone ask before you put it up, or don't put it up at all. Some people don't want their pictures floating around Facebook.
Number 5
Make sure you aren't writing inappropriate things on people's Facebook wall. If you were an employer, would you hire yourself from your writing ability on Facebook? And yes, it's true that may not be the way you would write professionally, but employers make assumptions on what they see and what knowledge they can gather.
Number 6
When it comes down to it, are you friends with people you wouldn't say "Hi" to on campus? Then delete them. The more people that have access to your Facebook the more people that can see what's going on in your life. Go on a "defriending" kick every once in a while.
So, the next time you log onto Facebook, just think about this question. "Would I want my mom to see this?" It's the best trick.
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