Along with mobile phones, text messaging, IM, and other forms of e-communication, Facebook and MySpace are very popular social networking and communication sites or tools. Though social networking sites abound, Facebook and MySpace are in all probability the most popular with college students. You are probably quite familiar with their services and you use them to connect and stay in touch with friends and family and meet new people.
As you may know, they offer you the ability to create individual profiles, provide you with messaging services, allow you to post and share photos, and make available a wide range of applications for whatever your goals or interests may be. By and large, most people appear to use them as a posting wall of their activities and ongoing messaging or communication with others—often the kind that does not require immediate answers, for which you are most likely to use text, IM, or your cell phone.
If you are new on campus, these sites can be beneficial in helping you transition to college and stay connected, allowing you to meet and connect with people that otherwise you are unlikely to run across. Sites such as Facebook and MySpace also improve your ability to stay in-touch with others you are leaving behind at home, providing an inexpensive way—other than internet or phone service—to keep track of and stay in-touch with family and friends. Walls have become an easy way of staying up-to-date on your friends’ lives and keeping others updated of your new experiences and endeavors away from home.
Sites like Facebook or Hi5, another popular one particularly among international students from South and Central America, can help you stay and feel connected to friends and family members in times of transition when you might be feeling disconnected and isolated in your new home at Ohio State. Now, despite its many potential social and psychological benefits, we would like to make you aware of potential risks associated with web-based social networks. So, here is a list of things to keep in mind:
Be selective on what you choose to share. The things we typically use to infer meaning (e.g. facial expressions, body language, tone, pace, etc.) are much less discernable on-line. Know that others may interpret things you write or post to mean something different than what you meant.
Protect your privacy. Most people on these sites are well-meaning community members, but there are always people who may be out there to cause some harm. For more tips on how to protect your privacy, go to: http://www.getsafeonline.org.
Monitor what you post. Your on-line activity is like your electronic footprint. Even when pictures or messages are deleted, there is always a way to uncover or recover them. Once in cyberspace always in cyberspace! So be confident that you are satisfied with the things you choose to post. And if you are unsure as to the appropriateness of a post, think of whether or not you would want your mother or grandmother to read or see the item.
Present yourself in a genuine and positive light. Friends and even potential employers may judge you based on your profile or activity on these sites. A potential employer may be researching these sites to get a better idea of potential employees. Therefore make sure you are presenting yourself positively. Needless to say, you don’t want your potential employer to see pictures of you behaving inappropriately; it could cost you a job opportunity now or even worse, could cause you to be fired from a job later.
Limit access to your profile. If you choose to share what potential employers may consider inappropriate, limit access to your site so only those you have invited to be your “friends” have access to it. This is suggested only if you must post your latest you-name-it.
By keeping these guidelines in mind, you will be able to enjoy these social networking sites while minimizing many of the risks associated with their use. Happy wall-ing!
For more information, please visit contact the Counseling and Consultation Service at the Younkin Success Center or at
(614) 292-5766.
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