Social Networking and Privacy

Social Networking is a huge part of life in 2011.  Almost everyone I know uses, Facebook, twitter, or some other social networking mechanism.  Although I use Facebook, I have put a lot of thought into my Facebook use.  I realize that I spend a lot of my time messing around online as a distraction from homework or other tasks I need to do.  Although for many people my age, the point of Facebook is to be able to stay connected to people, I have found that the people I do talk to on Facebook for the most part are the same people I call and text and see everyday also.  I have considered deleting my Facebook because I do waste time because of it, but while I’m in college I think I need to have one.  As a student at SCU, I receive messages from the school, from classes, and from dance team through Facebook, so at this point it would be very impractical for me to delete my account.  However, I have thought about deleting my Facebook after I graduate from college in 2012 and I think I may.  Another thing I do not like about social networking sites is that the line between our personal lives and what information we are putting out for the world to see becomes almost obsolete.  By posting a status or a picture, we are basically allowing the entire world to see, but because we do not see the people on the other end, it does not seem as serious.  While I do think the technology of social networking has major benefits, I think we need to keep in mind just how public things that we post are.  The benefits are not always apparent, but when I am Facebooking my friend studying abroad in Spain, I am reminded just how beneficial it can be.  The privacy issues are the greatest concern for me.  I always try to have my Facebook account on the most private settings, but sometimes there are settings that I don’t know about. This got especially scary when a man began stalking me and then found my Facebook account and contacted me that way also.  As for the rest of the social networking sites and programs, I have no desire to get involved because that only serves as another channel where my privacy could be invaded.  One exception to this rule I believe is celebrities.  Celebrities are really bound to have their privacy invaded, so social networking channels such as twitter give them a place to set the record straight and let the truth, or their version of the truth, be known.  All in all, I think social networking has many benefits, but I think it is important for users to keep in mind the drawbacks also.  If everyone is careful in their social networking usage, I think the benefits can definitely outweigh the possible harm that can come with it.  As long as everyone understands the seriousness of their actions on a social networking site, the benefits and technology are a fantastic addition to our everyday lives.