Facebook seems like a beneficial service, as the social networking utility that ‘helps you connect and share with the people in your life.’ It gives any individual almost unlimited access to an online community, if they are willing to devote 15 minutes to creating an account.
With Facebook, you have the ability to communicate with cohorts, coworkers and completely random people, like your friend’s roommate’s cousin whom you met that one time at a party and talked to for two minutes tops. You can also monitor/stalk/observe the conduct of all your 783 friends (you’re so popular!) day by day, tracking relationships, status and essentially knowing everything about someone without having to say a word to them. The social possibilities seem endless with such a constantly-advancing social system, with no cost to you!
That last statement is not entirely true. Actually, it’s quite false. Using the site can come at a tremendous cost.
Not only can extended time in front of the computer screen can be detrimental to a person’s eyesight, but extended time on Facebook can be costly to one’s social life. As you spend your time editing that About Me section, which is only read by six of your 783 friends, or reminding everyone that you’re online by updating your status (again), you could be spending time with friends, taking part in intramurals or participating in a club meeting. You could be actually interacting with people, just like your daddy did!
This social utility actually hinders communities instead of fostering them. People become entangled in the ‘image is everything’ idea and it sadly deprives them of experiencing all that the University has to offer, including its most important part: the people.
More importantly, the main reason why you should steer clear of the site: the futurenamely your own. We’re continually subjected to an incredibly difficult economic climate, which will have substantial consequences no matter if it’s solved in 10 years or tomorrow.’ That being said, it should be realized that the goal in attending Fairfield is to secure the beginnings of what will become your career. Bottom line, you need to get that job and after coming through here, you’re in good shape, but not perfect. Neither is anyone else for that matter who simply goes through the motions. You need to take action, get involved, and avoid anything that may come between you and that fateful interview.
Point in case being Facebook. Recruiters go through resumes like hot cakes, and afterwards, they scan the Internet for any and all information on potential candidates. When your profile picture pops up on the first page of a Google Images search, you can bet they’ll check into it and look for any reason to shred your 8.5′ x 11′ shot at signing on.
But you set your privacy settings so they can’t see your information? That just gives them reason to assume the worst, and if they’re on the fence with your application, you can bet this will dissuade them from going any further.
But wait, my profile is invisible or I’ll just delete it when I graduate. In that case, you’re fine, but you may want to check Facebook’s terms of service. Essentially, it details how they have the right to use any content you upload, whenever they want and even if you decide to leave. This gives them the ability to sub-license content, and in being a service that makes its money through advertising, I wouldn’t put it past them to share.
It’s ultimately up to you to decide if this site is or isn’t worth your time. There are plenty of great things to take part in on campus and off, but it’s your choice whether or not you’d like to take part. Just don’t shortchange yourself.
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