It seems harmless to update your Facebook status with your location. Who wouldn’t want to let their 500 closet friends know that you just walked into Chipotle? But what we sometimes fail to recognize is the security issues we are setting up for ourselves by letting our social media sites know our every move.
Social media has made it all too easy to sit back, press a button and let the world know our favorite and most frequently visited hotspots. We let people know when we’re at the mall, when we leave for the airport, when we got to the movie theater—the list goes on and on. But when does it become too much? When have we crossed the limit of harmless banter, into the realm of security concerns and privacy issues? Do we really need to publicize our every move? Or are we just attracting unwanted attention?
If you’re anything like me, you enjoy promoting your social outings on the web—I get a small sense of joy from checking in on foursquare and winning points based on where I go. It doesn’t bother me that I don’t have any real friends on Foursquare—instead I choose to check in to earn badges and get to the top of the leader board. But who else is out there in cyberspace taking note of my odd obsession with checking into our school fitness loft? Does it show up that I go pretty much every day at 3:15? Should I be staggering my outings and making myself less predictable? Everything online is a guessing game, and while I like that my Facebook friends “liked” my post about “Date night at Cheesecake Factory”, do I really need everyone else being able to see where I went last Friday? I tend to forget that while it’s fun to promote your social life, you have to be weary of who can see it.
Here are a few things to consider before pressing “check-in”:
- Who are your friends on this social media platform? Are you broadcasting to a widespread net of individuals—Do you even know half of them? Or is this a specific circle of friends?
- What are your privacy settings like for your page? Do you have certain features, like pictures, statuses and check-ins that can be adjusted to your standards?
- What information are you posting? Should you really be telling everyone on the Internet that you leaving for vacation and won’t be home for a week? Probably not smart, considering that sounds like an open invitation for someone to stop by your humble abode, and “watch” it for you.
- Are you sharing a little too much? It’s been said that excessive tweeting or posting is not only annoying, but often unnecessary. Are you sharing relevant, interesting information, or crowding your newsfeed with babble and nonsense. Check in to the fun places— like Buckingham Palace, or the Statue of Liberty. Don’t be that one person on social media that has a case of TMI and shares with his virtual world every time he goes to the grocery store or gas station.
Make smart decisions when dealing with the Internet and social media and you won’t have anything to worry about. Be cautious of the information you share, and the details you are giving away. The Internet is never “private” the way you think it is so don’t reveal too much!
-Ring Queen
I’m reading Invitation to the Life Span
We recently revamped our entire college clothing catalog with some pretty awesome NCAA® gear. We have everything from sweatshirts and hats to backpacks and watches for 430 different colleges. To kick-off fan excitement, we will be launching a weekly giveaway on our Facebook page called the Shore of Jerseys. Every week, from now until the Allstate® BCS National Championship Game on January 9th, we are awarding one lucky winner with a replica football jersey and a $50 gift card from Skinit.com. Invite your friends to join the eCampus.com Shore of Jerseys Giveaway for additional chances to win. If you refer a friend and they are selected as a weekly winner, you will also receive a football jersey and $50 gift card!
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Viacom International, MTV Networks, MTV Channel, 495 Productions, Jersey Shore or their Parent Companies or Affiliates. You understand that you are providing your information to eCampus.com and not to Facebook.
Fox
I’m reading New Perspectives on Microsoft Office 2010
In high school and college Facebook is the best way to keep up with your friends! It has been the best place to chitchat and post pictures of your greatest memories. What you may not know is that many employers will check out your Facebook after they receive your resume.
Employers are using your Facebook and Myspace accounts to get a feel for who you really are, aside from what is written on your resume. Some of the pictures and comments you post could really turn your employers away from hiring you. In some cases, another candidate may be chosen because their Facebook is cleaner than yours.
The picture of you and your bff Jack Daniels might not highlight your greatest qualities. The handle of vodka might not be the best accessory for you to carry around for the night.
This doesn’t mean you can’t do all of these things. Maybe you just shouldn’t document them on Facebook.
If there is something on your Facebook/Myspace that you wouldn’t want your mother or father to see it probably wont impress your future employers either!
Companies just want the best people to represent them and they can get a good feeling for who you are on your personal webpage.
You might be concerned about your privacy but an important thing to remember is that you willingly put your information on the internet. It’s fair game! You can control your privacy settings to be pretty particular and limiting.
Just some things to think about!
With love,
Kat VonD
I’m reading Managerial Accounting
The eCampus blog is dedicated to keeping you informed in all matters of college life and we know that Facebook is a big one. So here’s another Facebook safety tip. According to CNN Tech web spammers have been spreading a fake “dislike” button that has caused issues for many already. Post’s like this one “I just got the Dislike button, so now I can dislike all of your dumb posts lol!!” have been showing up on peoples walls followed by a link that takes you to a fake FB application. The application doesn’t actually allow you to add a dislike button but it does harm your account. It silently spreads the same message to all of your friends leading them into the hoax. The application can also steal your personal information. Facebook seems to have no plan to add a dislike functionality in the near future so be careful when you see anything referring to it. Currently Facebook claims to be trying to block the application but, in case you already downloaded it here’s how to get rid of the application:
- Open the account menu in the top right of the screen and choose application settings. You should be able to disable the application from there.
SeanJohn
I am reading Human Biology
