From Deseret News archives:
Students' chat site worrisome
The privacy of personal postings is suspect
But many students in Utah and across the nation are volunteering such information to potential employers, school administrators and their peers via the online world of Facebook.com, a social network just for college students.
The new trend has Utah college leaders worried about students posting inappropriate items and personal information on the Internet site, which has 25,727 registered users at Utah schools.
"There are photographs of people without clothes on and stuff like that that's really kind of dumb," said Steve Hess, academic vice president at the University of Utah. "It's part of a movement of social engineering where you meet over the Internet and share information. I guess it's high drama and excitement for students."
Students at Brigham Young University are the most avid users of Facebook in the state, with 15,398 student accounts. The U. has 4,789 students on Facebook.
U. Student Affairs Director Barbara Snyder is so worried about the growing use of Facebook.com that she's putting together a task force to decide how to educate students about the dangers of posting personal or embarrassing information.
That illusion of privacy, Snyder said, could make the student site more dangerous than other social networking sites like MySpace.com. Students think their messages and photos are for friends' eyes only, but they could be reaching a much broader audience, including potential employers, school administrators or predators, she said.
"Anything that's up there is fair game to evaluate you as an individual," she said. "It's not just a social outlet, it's something that can impact your career as well. Many students are surprised by that; they believe it's on their account, it's their information."
Facebook spokesman Chris Hughes said the site is one of the safest on the Internet. The site is open only to members of the educational community and gives users the option to withhold information, he said. The college e-mail address requirement also strips away the ability to be an anonymous member, which enhances the accountability for activity on the site, he said.
Comments
- Lawyers earn fees from own laws 1:36 p.m.
- No. 2 fugitive mob boss nabbed 1:35 p.m.
- Frustrated Palestinians appeal to UN 1:25 p.m.
- 'Tweeters' to report on shuttle launch 1:24 p.m.
- Pet cemetery reflects dedication 12:58 p.m.
- Film honors NYC defense attorney 12:57 p.m.
- Redgraves recreates grandma in play 12:21 p.m.
- Can 65 be considered young now? 12:14 p.m.
- Marriage: having each other's back 12:13 p.m.
- Presidential libraries open history 12:04 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
360 - BYU happy to escape with victory
215 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
200 - TCU creams U.
194 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
132 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
130 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - RSL heads to MLS title game
105 - Celtics crush Jazz
104
Sears is holding a special VIP night Sunday, Nov. 15, in stores and online.
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
I keep reading comments about WSU's poor shooting performance from beyond the...
Losing to Air Force will be the end for you Yner fans! Funny that a freshmen...
JD played PC and beat them with an overwhelming defense and an unstopable...
Huh. That's funny. I didn't think Keith, Rachael, Chris, or Bill broadcast...
That great performance yesterday? That's funny.
Why the new picture and the change in the headline? The Dwseret News botched...
My introduction to Talk Radio in Utah was Barberi and his nasty intolerant...
I don't understand what the Zoob fans are yapping at Utah about. BYU was...
@Albert Gay men have no hatred of women that is a total fabrication. Women...
Utah leads the nation in anti-depressant use, white collar fraud, porn...


You can be the first to comment on this story.