The recent row over Facebook's new Mini-feed has raised concerns that most college students, including the ones at Hopkins, remain unaware of the limited privacy protection that Facebook provides, especially since employers and graduate schools have begun to use the popular Web site to recruit and dismiss candidates.
The sway Facebook has obtained over the social life of most college and high schools students is detrimental in light of privacy concerns.
On Facebook's standard privacy settings, users have full access to all posted information on their own college, high school or work network. For example, within Hopkins' network students, professors, university employees, alumni and anyone with access to a University e-mail address can all view anything from pictures to wall posts.
Career Center Director Mark Presnell, cautions students to "think strategically about what you want to put up on the internet." Although Presnell has no direct knowledge of an employer using Facebook when hiring, he stresses the difference between what he calls the "formal"
and the "informal" processes of hiring. And the "informal" process currently may include checking the Facebook accounts of applicants.
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Andrew Douglas, says that when admitting graduate applicants, although "by and large, we do very well with what [information] we've got - we are interested in how they do research, and what their academic program is like," he can foresee a potential use of Facebook when choosing graduate applicants "when all other major factors are equal."
Douglas reports that once the vital factors for admission are in place, they currently use the applicant's resume and faculty comments as a judge of his or her behavior. The depth of personal information posted on Facebook "is something that we have not had access to before."
The continual increase in the amount of interpersonal information shared on the Web site has become a recent point of concern for some users. The addition of the Mini-feed caused an outcry and the formation of student groups against the web site, concerning their release of personal information.
In response to these concerns, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's creator posted a defense of the Web site's actions, "We made the site so that all of our members are a part of smaller networks like schools, companies or regions, so you can only see the profiles of people who are in your networks and your friends. We did this to make sure you could share information with the people you care about. This is the same reason we have built extensive privacy settings - to give you even more control over who you share your information with."
Unfortunately users can not always control who does and does not have access to their Facebook accounts. There could be plenty of other potential uses for Facebook, outside of a social network. Presnell said, "I do know of one company that is going to get a student intern to go onto Facebook to help recruit students -- to generate applications."
While this may be an incentive to display oneself openly on the Web site, Presnell stated that, "My fear is that Facebook could be far more detrimental than helpful. The internet can be a public place regardless of your intentions."
He recommends that students be conscious of "how your presence on the web portrays you c9 I think that there could be backlash on any campus if an employer uses Facebook [to check applicant's backgrounds]."
Nonetheless the Career Center has a policy of discussing Facebook when interviewing students. "The big things I talk to students about are references to drinking, drugs and relationship issues" such as "compromising pictures that are suggestive or contain nudity," Presnell said.
Student responses to these possibilities are extremely varied, but all are disappointed by what they consider the misuse of Facebook. While visiting from Columbia University, freshman Jesse Horwitz comments on these possible uses for Facebook, saying "I don't think it is right - you open yourself up to the world when you use Facebook, and you are misusing it if you are using it for purposes other than interacting with people."
Still Horwitz has been careful with what he has posted on the Web site. "I don't think it would be damaging if professors and future employers know what is on my account."
Regarding the possible use of Facebook by admissions officers and employers, Hopkins sophomore Avi Dunn said, "I find it strange that people would use the information posted on Facebook to judge someone's integrity. All that does is catch the one moment a week or month that someone does something inappropriate."
But like Horwitz, Dunn made sure that he "wouldn't have any material posted that would discourage an employer from hiring" him.
Other users take a different approach to the issue. Hopkins sophomore Mike Wills said, "I am irresponsible on Facebook. I have drunk pictures of myself -- I lie about myself on my profile a lot." But he adds, "I don't want to work someplace that can't recognize obvious sarcasm when they see it. If an employer thinks they'll get some squeaky clean college students, then they didn't go to college themselves. And that's bad."
Similarly Junior Joe Henderson claims "I don't care who sees my pictures. I figure that everybody in college drinks." Even so, he says he always has something "tasteful" up for his main picture. Regarding his future applications for Graduate studies or for a job, Henderson says "I think [my pictures] could have some sway ... That's who I am. I don't want to pretend that I'm a goodie-goodie when I'm not."
Some students have already opted to increase their privacy settings. Senior Alexander Kim says that "Facebook was getting too weird," so he made his profile open only to his Facebook "friends".
Within the Privacy Policy of Facebook.com, the Web site states that: "We built Facebook to make it easy to share information with your friends and people around you. We understand you may not want everyone in the world to have the information you share on Facebook; that is why we give you control of your information."
Sophomore Liz Schwartzberg said, "Facebook is meant to be a place where you can say what you want and not get in trouble for it. But like it or not, you're going to be judged for it. If what you have posted is going to keep opportunities away from you, it would make sense to edit it. If I knew my parents could see my profile, I would change it."
Facebook has its positive uses, as well, "I think Facebook is a very positive tool. If you're an introvert, it allows you to put your interests out there. I think that is what makes it such a valuable tool," Presnell said. He concludes students should be aware that due to the nature of the internet, "On some level, what you put up is always there - it's like a tattoo."
The site was founded as "thefacebook" in Feb. 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg at Harvard University. Initially, its membership was restricted to students in the Ivy League. Today Facebook has over 7.5 million college student accounts and nearly 20,000 new accounts created every day. The site also has close to 2.3 million photographs uploaded each day, putting the site ahead of all other public photo sites. It is also the seventh most trafficked Web site in the United States.
On Sept. 11, 2006, Facebook announced that the site would soon be opened to the general public, creating debate among students, who feared that their privacy may now once again be in question.
