Social Networks + School = Be Careful!
By Kristyn, age 20, Massachusetts
Sweet Designs Staff Intern
Sweet Designs Featured Writer
A lot of you girls will be going off to college at the end of the summer, and it's very important that you start to think about self-censorship when it comes to social networks.
This may sound like a big word, but really it's simple! Now that we have the advantage of access to these great online networks, we really need to think about what we write and post, because potentially it could be there to haunt us in the end.
What do I mean by this? Well, I'm sure a lot of you have used a social network, mostly Facebook, Myspace, or Twitter. These sites are great, an awesome way to meet new people around you, but there are a lot of dangers in them too!
There are a number of things you can do to make sure you are being safe with your social networks. First, you should review the terms and use policies. If you have already read them, review them. Rules change on Myspace and Facebook every year.
Second, watch what you post on your pages. This is not just for written posts, but picture posts as well. You may think you're not doing any harm, but you must remember that everyone can see what you're posting. Girls who are going to college, take serious caution when you post pictures of you and your friends drinking, especially in your dorm room. Most campuses today are dry campuses, and if they have proof that you were drinking in your dorm, you could get fined or put on probation.
For those of you who have become involved with extracurricular activities, you should really think twice about posting pictures if you're drinking an alcoholic beverage or engaging in an illegal activity. It may seem funny at the time, but you really don't know what could happen. Each school, athletic team, and campus organization has rules, and if you don't follow them, there could be consequences.
As newer social networks are developing, like Twitter, you should be very careful when it comes to posting what you're doing. It can be very easy for someone to track you down by just looking at your Twitter status.
There's a good chance you will love your social networks even more in college. Facebook is great to get to know people, and even meet new friends. Myspace is great, because it allows you to create a web page depicting what you like to do. However, just because these sites are fun doesn't always mean they're safe. You should always exercise caution with social networks and censor yourself.
