Spring Break
iStalk
Samantha Hughes
Issue date: 6/10/09 Section: Opinion
Recently, some unsavory aspects of Facebook have been exposed.
Aside from their perpetually changing layouts and "stalker-feeds," drama about deleted photos being retained has come to light. BBC News reported that photographs on social networking sites, such as Facebook, can remain even after they're deleted.
I know for most users, this news is pretty alarming. What is most alarming to me, though, are the pictures that end up online in the first place. Blatant portraits of underage drinking are definitely not the most flattering material to find on a page. Especially if you're a future employer. Or if you're someone looking to take advantage of the right girl. Sure, if you have your page set to private, no one can see it, right? Which, for some ECU students, means a sense of safety for posting those fall-down drunk or alluring photos.
Well, "private" doesn't necessarily mean that you're really protected. If one of your friends tags you in that album, one of their friends, a total stranger, could view that album.
Don't get me wrong here, I'm not trying to condemn. But what happens when someone who does condemn those activities, such as a potential boss, stumbles upon it?
If these photos are not deleted permanently when you erase them, any future employer could potentially see them after simply googling a name.
According to a 2008 survey conducted by Careerbuilder.com, 20 percent of employers admitted to viewing social-networking sites and 9 percent plan to use them in their future hiring process. 24 percent of employers decided to make job offers to applicants based on their profiles and 33 percent didn't make job offers based on applicant profiles. So if losing a six figure salary is your desire, simply click upload and put those pictures from that bender up on your page.
My point is this: let's say that there is a highly embarrassing photo of me dressed as a leprechaun on my Facebook. This photo does exist and is a favorite among friends.
Aside from their perpetually changing layouts and "stalker-feeds," drama about deleted photos being retained has come to light. BBC News reported that photographs on social networking sites, such as Facebook, can remain even after they're deleted.
I know for most users, this news is pretty alarming. What is most alarming to me, though, are the pictures that end up online in the first place. Blatant portraits of underage drinking are definitely not the most flattering material to find on a page. Especially if you're a future employer. Or if you're someone looking to take advantage of the right girl. Sure, if you have your page set to private, no one can see it, right? Which, for some ECU students, means a sense of safety for posting those fall-down drunk or alluring photos.
Well, "private" doesn't necessarily mean that you're really protected. If one of your friends tags you in that album, one of their friends, a total stranger, could view that album.
Don't get me wrong here, I'm not trying to condemn. But what happens when someone who does condemn those activities, such as a potential boss, stumbles upon it?
If these photos are not deleted permanently when you erase them, any future employer could potentially see them after simply googling a name.
According to a 2008 survey conducted by Careerbuilder.com, 20 percent of employers admitted to viewing social-networking sites and 9 percent plan to use them in their future hiring process. 24 percent of employers decided to make job offers to applicants based on their profiles and 33 percent didn't make job offers based on applicant profiles. So if losing a six figure salary is your desire, simply click upload and put those pictures from that bender up on your page.
My point is this: let's say that there is a highly embarrassing photo of me dressed as a leprechaun on my Facebook. This photo does exist and is a favorite among friends.
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