Comments on: Ask the college counselor: Do admissions officers look at Facebook? http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/15/ask-the-college-counselor-do-admissions-officers-look-at-facebook/ Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:44:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Anonymous http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/15/ask-the-college-counselor-do-admissions-officers-look-at-facebook/#comment-8887 Anonymous Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:25:27 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/15/ask-the-college-counselor-do-admissions-officers-look-at-facebook/#comment-8887 While I agree that people should be smart and safe about publishing their identities on the Internet, I believe that this type of article creates unnecessary social networking paranoia. Like the author said, these days there are greater options for privacy protections, and college counselors cannot access restricted information. It is not easy to friend anyone: people don't invite or accept friends they don't want or would pose a threat, e.g., teenagers as a whole friend other teenagers, rarely adults and especially adults they don't know. And the "heard it through the grapevine" argument is ridiculous- unless someone did something extreme and CNN or dlisted newsworthy. We need to teach teens how to use the Internet intelligently and realistically. Rather than telling them not to cuss (which is a bit like telling them not to have sex), we should be teaching them how to use the tools of the Internet to their advantages. As a teacher it has been my experience that many schools and parents are naive about Internet threats and as a result they spread fear and untruths rather than helpful teachings. To the student who sent the note: the fact that you are conscious of the image you are publishing makes me think that you are already adjusting the things you need to on the Internet to be protected and safe. I'd be more worried about the things your friends post in non-restricted ways! No matter what protections you use, unfortunately that does not guarantee your neighbor is. Good luck! While I agree that people should be smart and safe about publishing their identities on the Internet, I believe that this type of article creates unnecessary social networking paranoia. Like the author said, these days there are greater options for privacy protections, and college counselors cannot access restricted information. It is not easy to friend anyone: people don’t invite or accept friends they don’t want or would pose a threat, e.g., teenagers as a whole friend other teenagers, rarely adults and especially adults they don’t know. And the “heard it through the grapevine” argument is ridiculous- unless someone did something extreme and CNN or dlisted newsworthy.

We need to teach teens how to use the Internet intelligently and realistically. Rather than telling them not to cuss (which is a bit like telling them not to have sex), we should be teaching them how to use the tools of the Internet to their advantages.

As a teacher it has been my experience that many schools and parents are naive about Internet threats and as a result they spread fear and untruths rather than helpful teachings.

To the student who sent the note: the fact that you are conscious of the image you are publishing makes me think that you are already adjusting the things you need to on the Internet to be protected and safe.

I’d be more worried about the things your friends post in non-restricted ways! No matter what protections you use, unfortunately that does not guarantee your neighbor is.

Good luck!

]]> By: Children's Aid NYC http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/15/ask-the-college-counselor-do-admissions-officers-look-at-facebook/#comment-8881 Children's Aid NYC Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:33:06 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/07/15/ask-the-college-counselor-do-admissions-officers-look-at-facebook/#comment-8881 Very true. Everything that you put out there (Facebook and other online social network sites) is open to public scrutiny and criticism. Facebook etiquette should mirror the basic, golden rule of good manners: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Otherwise, it may come back to haunt you. Heather for Children's Aid NYC Very true. Everything that you put out there (Facebook and other online social network sites) is open to public scrutiny and criticism. Facebook etiquette should mirror the basic, golden rule of good manners: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Otherwise, it may come back to haunt you.

Heather for Children’s Aid NYC

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