Facebook is something we all know quite a bit about. Most of us have one ourselves. It has become such a huge part of our culture and a major part of the internet. Just a few years ago, no one had heard of such a place. Now it's even talked about in everyday life to the point where it's unavoidable.
After reading the articles about founder Mark Zuckerberg, I began to think and reflect a little bit more about Facebook. What do we really know about this site where we spend so much time and share so much with the world? After all, what do we really know about this mysterious computer "genius" who started it all?
Think about what you currently share on your Facebook (if you don't have one, think about what you would put out there if you did). Think of how your Facebook represents you as a person. What would you think if your parents saw your information, photos, etc.? How about a potential employer? Do you represent yourself in a way that is professional? Do you care what your Facebook says about you to those who view it? Are you worried at all about the security of your information?
After reading the articles about founder Mark Zuckerberg, I began to think and reflect a little bit more about Facebook. What do we really know about this site where we spend so much time and share so much with the world? After all, what do we really know about this mysterious computer "genius" who started it all?
Think about what you currently share on your Facebook (if you don't have one, think about what you would put out there if you did). Think of how your Facebook represents you as a person. What would you think if your parents saw your information, photos, etc.? How about a potential employer? Do you represent yourself in a way that is professional? Do you care what your Facebook says about you to those who view it? Are you worried at all about the security of your information?
I think we share so much because we feel as if were just talking to friends. But if we just have are friends on are facebook, shouldn't they already know these things about you? My mother has a facebook and has seen my facebook. I have her as a friend. I do not feel like anything on there affends her in anyway. Im not a stupid person who thinks putting pictures of me at a party completely wasted is cute. I mean I have the basics, I have some pictures but mostly there just face shots of me. I have pictures from a vacation. I do have the books and music and things Im interested in. But I feel if a possible employer is to look at my facebook they also would not see any problem. I honestly feel that anyone cold look at my facebook. I mean its facebook and I do not have any details of my life that someone who knows me does not already know. I feel like I want people to find me, I like meeting new people. And I know meeting people off the internet is scary but that's why you use the buddy system, bring a friend. Its a SOCIAL network be social. Having a facebook adding only your nearest and dearest people in your life is not being social. Im not saying become friends with everyone but become friends with people from school and work and extended family, you never know what talking to one person could become. And I was always told networking a key to success? Having the right contacts, being able to talk to someone who knows whats going on. But if you only talk to 20 people maybe you could be missing out?
ReplyDeleteI do use facebook quite a bit. I try to keep by facebook somewhat professional, but at the same time as Derick said I also want my facebook to reflect who I am a the same time. I do keep my profile and pictures private, so only my friends can see them. Companies who would want to check up on me would have to send me a friend request to view anything of mine. I also do not accept friends that I do not know, so my pictures do not get around. For example, on my facebook I have pictures of me and my friend Alex dressed up for Rocky Horror Picture Show. This was a fun night and I want to share with my friends my pictures, but I do not want to have a potential employer looking at these photos. I wouldn’t mind if my parents saw my facebook, they do not have one, but I have uncles and aunts on my facebook who I communicate with. My profile is never shocking or appalling for the most part. My republican family may not like what I post on my facebook, but that’s more of an issue of politics, than anything.
ReplyDeleteAgain I am not worried about the security of my facebook, because I keep mine private. Also there really inst and incriminating evidence at all on my page. You cant go on there and find out my phone number, or my address, or even my email address, Ive set that so only friends can view it. Ive made sure that I am as facebook savy as possible with my information. I would think that my facebook represents who I am, a mother, a student, a worker, a wife, and a friend.
In a way after using facebook I feel that I am a slave to the website because it can be addictive to go on facebook. Facebook allows you display some sort of false identity becuase you are allowed to post as much but how the question is how mouch do you allow? And how does that define you.
ReplyDeleteNaturally people's first reactions are to post all the good "things" about you. I have told my parent's what I do in college since we trust each other, my parents may not approve of what I am doing but the fact is that I am. They trust me well enough to look after myself. The best attribute that I use faebook for is that I can communicate with others such as my friend in Argentina and Syracuse university. Those are my two friends that I constantly post on thier wall since they are frequently busy and don't have much time to talk.
It is true that I do not present myself professional because there are pictures that I should not have up yet they are there. I leave photos that should be taken down up there only for the fact that I could care less.
I think that the information we share on facebook that we say about ourselves in the "info" part of our page is just information so people can get to know who we are. You're obviously not gonna put ur address and phone number, although people do that. What is on your page and what is enabled for the public to see is you sharing things about yourself with people that you know.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures and comment I have on my facebook do show who I am as a person. I have pictures of when I am out with both my family and friends. I like to have fun and be myself. Which is shown through most of my facebook. I guess depending on the relationship you have with your parents, should decide whether you're going to be frinds with them on facebook or not. I am friends with my mom on facebook, but we have a really good relationship. I tell her everything. So she isn't surprised when she sees something on facebook. One thing that I am most cautious about are my pictures. I'm in college and everyone goes out and parties. I am not 21 yet, and I am also going to school to be a teacher. I don't want pictures of me holding a beer bottle, in the same picture as a bong etc. When i start applying for jobs, I don't want this stuff to come back and bite me in the ass. Last year I also got in trouble for drinking in my room, 4 months after if actually happened because of pictures that were on facebook. I think that people should really think about what they are putting on facebook, and letting people see their lives.
For me, Facebook is a social network, as well as a place for me to procrastinate by playing games. I think my facebook shows me as an outgoing person who likes to have fun, and I have lots of friends. If my parents saw my facebook, I really wouldn't care. I have nothing to hide on there. All of my pictures are of my friends and I at school, at their house, graduation, prom, other adventures and good times, so nothing that I have to hide. I also have my e-mail address blocked from any viewers because I don't want people having my e-mail address. My mom might say that I share too much information because I have where I go to school and my major, but I personally think, that so many people are in my major, it would be hard to find me. Also, my dorm isn't listed so I don't care. I have no inappropriate pictures of myself on Facebook, so if you call that professional then yes I would say my facebook is professional. If an employer ever saw my facebook, I don't think they would have any reason to not hire me. I have my boss' as friends on Facebook, and they still hired me. I know that Facebook is very public, but because of my privacy settings, no one can find out information about me who isn't my friend; also because I don't use my actual real first name, it makes it more difficult for people to find me. I am not worried about the security of my profile because I know I have my facebook's privacy settings exactly where I want them. As long as you are smart with your facebook, you can do a lot.:)
ReplyDeleteThis is a valid point that we don’t seem to think about as we post comments, photos, videos etc. on our friends Facebook pages. Personally, I don’t share much information on my Facebook page. When friend requesting me all that appear is Briana Del Bene, The College of Saint Rose, and December 25th. This information appears to be pretty vague until I accept you as my friend however; in this case I still only share a limited amount of information on Facebook. I share pictures on my Facebook with my friends and family members because it allows me to show them what’s going on in my life through photos and videos. My parents have both friend requested me, and I’ve added them (yes, I know it’s weird to be friends with your parents) but they don’t really bother me much on it. I’m sure they’ve ‘stalked’ my photos and gone through an enormous amount of comments just to see if they’ve missed something or if I didn’t mention I did something but they are just doing what normal parents should do, worry about their children. I believe that the majority of my Facebook is professional; I don’t think having a Facebook while being a professional is indeed professional but some beg to differ. I think there are certain boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed if one of higher power were to have a Facebook because everyone would be checking up on their every move and if they mess up than it’s already public because it is published on Facebook. I don’t think there is anything that I should really be ashamed about that is posted on my Facebook because I choose to post images, videos, and comments in which case if you don’t want others to look at those items on your page then simply don’t post them. Everything on Facebook is public, so it is common sense, keep your private lives off of it and no problems should occur.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what many of you have said so far. I like how there are some differing views about certain aspects as well. I agree about it depending on your relationship with your parents as far as what you would want them to see. As for me, my parents aren't on Facebook, but I also wouldn't have much to hide if they were. I've showed my mom my pictures before. She's really just not interested in making one of her own, because she's paranoid about the security of putting your information out there. I really don't think there's too much to be worried about because of the privacy settings, as everyone has been mentioning. It's a nice feature to be able to look and see how people would see your profile if they are not friends with you. I have some pictures on mine that I wouldn't want future employers to find, since I am going to school to become a teacher. However, I feel that at that time, I will probably be at a different point in life and my Facebook will hopefully reflect that. I do think that to a certain extent my Facebook does reflect who I am, and that's kind of the point. I try to be careful with what I put out there, but at the same time you just can't think about it too much, or it takes all the fun away from it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that I don't really think about what information I put on my facebook. I don't think i reveal too much though. I think facebook makes it easy for a person to reveal how much information they feel comfortable with. I really just use facebook to socialize and to waste time. When I feel like procrastinating or talking to someone I haven't talked to in a while I get on facebook. I try to not accept friend request from people I don't know. My parents don't have facebook but I don't think I would have a problem showing them my facebook if they asked. They know pretty much everything that is on my facebook. I have aunts and cousins that are on facebook who could easily show my parents or tell them about my facebook. I feel comfortable with what is on my facebook. In fact some of my friends on facebook are co-workers and bosses. They can see everything that I post. I also don't put pictures on my facebook that I know would get me in trouble later in life. I know my bosses look on my facebook and so far it hasn't had an effect on me. I think facebook is a great idea since it allows you to control basically everything on your page.
ReplyDeleteI do worry about what I put on facebook. i try to be as professional as possible and not share anything that I wouldn't want my parents or boss to see. I don't believe in putting up pictures, posts, or anything that would be harmful to me. I think your facebook says a lot about you and shows the way you represent yourself. I wouldn't want facebook to represent me in a negative light or stop me from getting a future job. I try to stay friends with only people I know and a lot of my family is on facebook also. I think facebook is a good idea if you use it the right way. And make sure you don't put too much personal stuff on your page.
ReplyDeleteAshley Fischer
Lets face it; Facebook is a part of our generation. It is unavoidable and like many have already pointed out it is addictive. It is so addictive that many of us find ourselves procrastinating finishing that essay or reading our latest text book assignment and the sad thing is we do it to ourselves.
ReplyDeleteAt first I did not want a Facebook, my friends made one for me. I never checked it until I realized it was becoming a huge part of everyone's high school life. So I caved in and 3 years late, I am avidly checking mine everyday. On the plus side I have watch this creation develop over the years into what it is now. Derek made a good point by questioning what we really know about this site any ways. Up until this class I never really though about it and I am now glad that I read about Mark Zuckerberg, the so called founder of this website. He is some what of an evil genius and started an incredible networking revolution.
As for what I put on my Facebook all depends on who I know is going to see it. All of my privacy settings are personalized for my own comfort zone. I only allow my friends to see what I want them to see and I never accept a request unless I know who the person is. I probably shouldn't share as much as I do but like I said I am fully aware of what I am putting on Facebook and should be responsible for my own actions.
I know many people who are RAs or of some leadership position on campus, and they have pictures of them underage drinking. There are many people who don't realize everything that is seen by so many people. I try my best to make my profile professional. I share inside jokes and silly things on my page, because that's how my personality is. However, I don't put any pictures up there that I would be embarrassed about if an employer was to see them. I may have pictures of me making silly faces with strange clothing on, but I'm silly like that. However, I do not have pictures of me half naked dancing on a bar. I feel as if these two are very different. It looks really bad if it shows someone not portraying themselves in a professional manner. I'm okay with employers seeing me doing silly things on facebook, because they're going to figure out that's how I am at some point, anyway.
ReplyDeleteAs for information I share, I don't post my phone number or anything too personal. I'm okay with people knowing that I'm a fan of Lady Gaga, and Mean Girls. I don't share my social security number or anything like that, so I'm not concerned with the information I share.
I don't mind if other people see the information that I put on my Facebook page. I don't think it's a big deal if a potential employer sees that I have a drink in my hand because I'm legally of age. I'm always careful of what kinds of statuses or pictures I put up because I do not want someone to create the wrong image of me. The pictures that are up of me represent who I am, as a person. I never share my cell phone number or address on Facebook, either. I don't want strange people I don't know getting ahold of me. I am worried about the security of my information which is why I don't put up my cell phone number or address. If I don't want someone seeing my information then there is the option of blocking that person.
ReplyDeleteI don't have anything to hide on Facebook. I try to look as approachable as I can, especially since I'm friends with an array of people of various ages. My sister is 14, and her friends have added me, so I try not to be too inappropriate on my page. I don't have an explicit photos or anything crazy like that, but I do have things that represent who I am, like fan pages, and groups. I don't have my phone number or email or anything, and I've made it pretty hard to search for me on facebook. If you do find me, my general information is pretty slim.
ReplyDelete