The Communique

Issue date: 3/23/06 Section: News

A rising Internet fad called Facebook has swept through colleges across America including Kirkwood Community College. Many students view Facebook as a Web site where they can chat, setup Internet profiles and share pictures. However, there is another side to Facebook, a side where it can leave a bad image on the college and become a potential danger for students.

Kirkwood instructor, Elizabeth McCarthy, stated the reason Facebook is becoming such a threat is because of the amount of information that students can share. "Your name, address, date of birth, phone number, everything can be posted on there," said McCarthy who teaches in computer science. "It would not be hard at all for someone to commit identity theft from the information you can find on people's profiles."

McCarthy also commented on the issue of rapes on campuses resulting from Facebook. "Guys can get online find out what you look like, where you live and your name and they just walk up to you and be like 'Hey so and so, I'm friends with your friend Bob' catch you off guard and you let your guard down."

Many students don't realize just how much freedom they are giving up when they sign onto Facebook. Police and law enforcement officials have been known to use Facebook as leads and to incriminate people. McCarthy explained when students first sign up to use Facebook there is a little box on the first page that users have to check that says they have agreed to the terms and policies of that site. Many students check the box and never read what it says.

"By checking that box you are really giving up your privacy," McCarthy said. "Police can hear through the grapevine about something you may have done or been involved with, view your Facebook and find the incriminating material they need and then serve you with a subpoena or warrant. You have no choice but to comply with it because you checked that box when you first signed up that says you have agreed to let law enforcement officers have the information."

Facebook is a public site. The site and student profiles can be viewed by faculty, alumni and students, even a person who has taken just one credit at Kirkwood can sign onto Facebook.

When asking students what their thought was about representing the college through Facebook, current student ambassador Adam Whitlatch said "While being a student ambassador we were told by our advisors that if we had party pictures up or any other bad images like us drinking, that we should take them down because it sends a bad image out to the college."

Whitlatch continued by stating "Most students out there should think about what pictures they have and what things they have on their profiles because it does send a bad image out to Kirkwood and other people."

"People who use Facebook tend to joke around," commented second year Kirkwood student Adam Burnham. "People still have a life outside of work, if they want to go out and drink and whatever, that should be up to them."

Though there seems to be a division between students taking Facebook seriously and thinking it is harmless, McCarthy did state a few tips that students could do to insure keeping their information safe:

Do state your age but don't state your date of birth

Do state your town but don't state your street address

Do not list your cell or home phone number unless you restrict it to just your friends.

Do watch what pictures and other paraphernalia that you place on your profile.

McCarthy said she believes "Facebook is a good site but that students should be cautious about the information that they post."

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