If you haven’t been living under a rock the past four years (omg…has it really been 4 years since the beginning of Facebook?), you know that social networking is where it’s at. It is becoming increasingly important, as new college students, as current students, and as job searchers, to know how to prevent information you consider private from leaking to others.
First rule: the Internet is NOT private. I have my privacy settings on Facebook set very high, but I am vigilant about what of mine gets to the web. Try this: every few months or so (or whenever you think of it), Google yourself. See what pages come up. If there is something you don’t like, do something about it. Set your privacy settings higher, maybe delete your old xanga account. Make sure to check the pictures too!
Second rule: Use your privacy settings! Anyone who has been on Facebook more than 15 minutes knows it’s not exactly the most private place on the internet. Users would do well to know how to use the privacy settings. There is an excellent blog post that will tell you the 10 most important privacy settings, and how to use them. The article is a little outdated since Facebook seems to have experienced a lot of changes in the short time between February and now. (Note: as I write this I’m getting an error when trying to load the page, but maybe you’ll be able to see it.) Not a single thing from my Facebook page comes up in a Google search, and that’s the way I like it. Also, it’s very difficult to find me on Facebook if you don’t already know me. Also the way I like it.
Third rule: Be careful who you “friend.” I make a point of not “friending” supervisors, or anyone superior to me in the workplace. This has been very easy so far, as none of them have been on Facebook. If a supervisor really wants to connect with me over the Internet, I have LinkedIn. Also, clean out your friends list every once in a while. I just did it this spring, and deleted people whose lives I decided I no longer cared about. Some people on there I hadn’t talked to since the end of high school, and I just finished college. It may seem mean, but if you haven’t talked to the person in four years, are you really going to miss them? And, if someday you do need to connect with them, chances are you can find them again.
The definition of “private” in this world is changing. When you post something on the Internet, ask “Do other people REALLY need to know this?” “Do I need to take this quiz to tell me what periodic element I am?” (Yes I do. Turns out I’m gold. Lucky me.)
The more careful and vigilant you are about your web presence, the better off you will be in the long run. There are tons of stories about people getting fired from great jobs based on their Facebook profiles. Just be careful, and you’ll be just fine.
Here are some more links if you’re curious about ways to keep your private life private. Or if you want to laugh at stupid things people have done that have gotten them in trouble.
How to Avoid Getting Fired by Facebook
Don’t Tell Facebook You’re Bored At Work
Facebook Post Gets Worker Fired
How to View Private Profiles (I put this one here to warn you of the things people can try!)
