Hello class!
I will be beginning our presentations this coming Monday with a discussion on Facebook. I am posting two articles in preparation, both from newspaper's of highly recognizable universities in the United States; Washington University and Northwestern University. The articles can be found at:
http://dailyuw.com/2007/4/25/facebook-poses-privacy-issues-for-students/
http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/2007/11/5072/employers-use-facebook-information-when-hiring/
After reading these two articles, I have personally reconsidered my page's content and maybe you will too. Enjoy the readings and see you all Monday.
- Jake Gold
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14 comments:
Great, Jake. I read the articles and they bring up some interesting issues, especially for students. Good fodder for discussion.
By the way, when you put a web link in your post, you can make it an active hyperlink by selecting it and clicking on the link button in the post edit window. (I've done this for you.)
Corey
Very interesting articles Jake. I am signed up with facebook and use to use it a lot but never knew about the privacy features of facebook. I think the reason facebook does not advertise about the privacy features is because all the open information is what keeps the facebook and some other cyber communities going.
This other article on use of facebook by employers is really scary. As the article says and we all know that employment dicissions on the basis of color, age, religion etc are all against law but what if these employers consider this information to make or change their employment decisions but not being loud about it?
Amazing articles Jake. I was really shocked to find out that employers literally just type in our name in a web search, and evaluate our ethics to what they see on the web about us. You have a lot that you can discuss about but, something interesting you can get into is the whole idea about privacy and our freedom of free speech. I am huge advocate in exercising our rights to our fullest extent but, when you think about it. Aren't we giving up our rights when we post a single paragraph on the web?
Really interesting article. I had actually read something like that a few weeks ago. I have to say I have mixed feelings about it. You could look at this as an invasion of privacy (to a certain extent. Really, if you think about it, whenever you post something on the internet it's no longer private), but on the other hand, employers have a right to know certain things about people applying for a job. Let's say you are 18 and want to work for a elementary school summer camp: you go for the interview, they like you, they look at your facebook, they see pictures of you drinking and smoking pot; they're probably going to rethink hiring you. Would they really want someone who engages in those sorts of activities watching after small children? What if you come to work stoned one day and lose a couple of third graders on a field trip? That'd be a lot of paperwork...
Another thing most people don't consider is even if their profile is set to private as they discussed in the article, the administrators at facebook have full access to everyone's profile. Now, you may say what they can see won't have any affect on your career, but let’s just say there's this guy who works at facebook. While perusing through people's profiles, checking to see if there's any illegal content, he happens upon a picture of a hot girl in her skimpy underwear (as many people make their profile pictures). Well, he decides he likes the way she looks, checks out her address (apparently she lives 20 minutes from him, and works at the restaurant he takes his very unattractive wife to every Thursday night), and sets out to pay her a visit. While she's getting into her car one day, he tries to talk to her, can't understand why she's weirded out, but decides to take her for a little ride in the car anyway (he has a previous charge of rape in another state). She's never heard from again. Kinda kills the great, new promotion she was offered, doesn't it? So long story short, be careful of what you put on the internet. I personally don't put anything on my facebook about where I live, work, ect. It may sound paranoid, but stuff like this happens more than you think.
Those were really great articles that were found. My comment is the one where employer take their employees based on what is on a person's facebook. I understand when a person posts pictures of them drinking it looks wrong and inappropriate. However, in my opinion what a person does outside of school and/or work has no real coverage on a persons work ethic. A picture says a thousand words. The only reason I think a person should be careful of what pictures they post and place on their status is because any burglar or stalker can see where you are and around what area you normally hang out.
Great article Jake. Its funny that a couple of people were shocked to find out that facebook is used by employers to get background information. I find this funny because about 4 months ago my cousin's interviewer asked him for his facebook account, and i was just as shocked. But then again one of the reasons the web was created was for recieving fast and easy information. It was only a matter of time before our personal information was just as easy to observe. Thanks to web communities such as facebook
Hey Jake. this is a really good article. I can't believe that some employers actually check you out on facebook before they hire you. This makes people think twice about which tagged pictures they should leave up on their page for everyone to see, as well as other things on your profile. Next time i'm going for a job interview I'll make sure I don't have anything inappropriate on my page beforehand. lol
I like these two articles. I learn that the privacy of online social-network affects us in real-life. I made same reaction as well as Miguel Tepale. I never know that post my personal information sometimes could bring me some problems.this is so scary!
I think that we should be smarter than any social networking which the human created it.We have to be careful about setting special privacy for us ;for example, nobody will find your name" last name" easily if you make an anonymous name that your friends knows it by just telling them how they can search for you for adding , so you can avoid other people get you by your real name . I think that we should be more alertive about anything we do.
I've always been skeptical about social networking websites such as facebook. The numerous amount of people using facebook reflects on our social skills as a society. It just seems that we've been spending more time with technology that is supposed to connect us and help us communicate with others while we're spending endless hours alone behind our computer screens instead of being outdoors or actually meeting people in person. Also, I can't help but feel that the relationships formed or maintained on facebook are almost superficial. Still, I can see how facebook might help certain people keep in touch, for example, friends who don't live within driving distance of each other who don't get to see each other often. Also, there are people who you don't necessarily want to call everyday but rather just want to check in and see how they are every now and then. I don't have a facebook but sometimes I feel I over analyze the whole situation and should just make one.
Hi,Jake.It's very interesting and amazing articles.I never know that almost one in ten employers will use socical networking sites to review candidate information.However,in my opinion,Facebook is a socical networking site.People use Facebook to add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profile to notify friends about themselves.It just a tool of making friends. Furthermore,many people use a bogus identity to sign up. Therefor, I don't think the authenticity of Facebook is 100%. Even though the Facebook in background checks is a new element in the hiring process. But i strongly believe that degree and resume are the most important factors of interview.
great articles, Jake. I know there are many employer will check their employees' background through the cyber social communities, so I never put my real profile in the "fun" social website which I will mess around and say something stupid and post some "crazy" photos, like on Facebook or MSN. I just use my real identity information in some "Serious" website like Gmail or Classmate.com.But now i doubt about that will there be one day the two of "me" will be connected? Because i realize that whether i am sitting in front of the computer or not, i am always online, i am always in the cyber network.
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