 "Photo:")
 "Photo:")
 "Photo:")
 "Photo:")
Beyond the photos of last night's party, the latest friend requests and the social networking, there are dangers for students on Facebook and Myspace.
William Mercier, the director of public safety, said two crimes often result from information posted on Facebook and Myspace: identity theft and stalking.
Facebook and Myspace can aid identity thieves who already have a student's information by giving them personal information that makes it easier to use the stolen credit card numbers, he said.
Yancy Phillips, the director of user service with the Office of Information Technology, agreed with Mercier that identity theft can be a problem, "but much of it depends on what the person publishes."
Mercier said that information about a person's "birthdates, addresses, where and what hours you work (posted on Facebook and Myspace) may allow people to know more about you than you'd like."
Mercier said that ISU has had problems, mostly stalking, that resulted from Facebook and Myspace.
"In most cases, we have been able to identify the stalker and solve the problem," he said.
Mercier said if a student becomes a victim of any crime, they need to report it to the Office of Public Safety or the Terre Haute Police Department.
Other than criminal problems, employment problems are also present with posts on Facebook and Myspace.
Phillips said some employers look at a prospective employee's Facebook or Myspace Web site to research their potential employee.
"It only takes a few inappropriate pictures or postings on a Web site for an employer to change his or her mind about hiring (someone)," he said. "Over the years, before Facebook and Myspace, students have used personal Web sites to post. I personally reviewed some of these sites, including written derogatory statements about past employers or pictures that were highly inappropriate. This speaks volumes about that person and casts a large shadow of doubt about whether I would hire this person or not."
"Most importantly, students need to think carefully about anything they post," Mercier said. "Ask yourself, 'Is this something I wouldn't mind the whole world knowing about?'" Mercier also advised trying to think like a criminal.
"Ask yourself, 'If I was trying to do something bad or illegal to this person on Facebook is this information something I could use?'" he said.
"Students tend to publish things on these sites that they would not necessarily want everyone to see," Phillips said. "They do not think about these sites as being 'public.' Many act as if parents, grandparents, and potential employers will never see what they posted, but this is not the case. Things you post on (Facebook or Myspace) are looked at, not only by your friends and family, but individuals who may have other nefarious ideas in mind."
( Harrold Bosstick is a sophomore English teaching major. He can be reached at sascamed@isugw.indstate.edu )
Be the first to comment on this article!