Countless people use Facebook as a chat room, a job search tool and a forum to express opinions. Users enter significant information and write personal comments without paying mind to who can view them. Since technology is so advanced, commenting on someone's wall is not akin to passing a note in school. The action of passing a note guarantees that the note is only seen by the people that the note was intended for. When information is entered into a Web site such as Facebook, it is stored and endlessly viewed and shared. Not only can the administrators of Facebook see someone's information, but other companies can see bits and pieces as well.
Recently, Facebook made a deal with Google that enables people to search someone's name in Google and get their Facebook picture and an informational blurb as a result. Before this deal, people who did not have Facebook accounts could not view anyone's picture or see even the slightest amount of information. Facebook doesn't allow users to add this as an option though. Users are automatically put into the public search system unless they opt out. However, to get to that option they have to dig through Facebook's various pages of privacy settings. Buried in the fourth page from the home screen is an explanation of the public privacy policy and a little box that an account holder can check to opt-out of a public search. The policy states that, "your public search listing consists of your name and the thumbnail version of your profile picture. This listing will be shown to people who search for your name when they are not logged in to Facebook." So basically, teachers, employers, resident assistants, parents, criminals and deviants can all view someone's Facebook picture at least. Information can only be privacy protected to a certain extent.
Since so much information is so readily accessible, Facebook users need to take responsibility for the information that they enter on the Web site. It is not a good idea to depict oneself in a tiny bikini holding a red Solo cup filled with a mysterious blue liquid. Technology is becoming more openly available as it becomes more advanced. People who use sites like Facebook or MySpace need to be wary of what information they post on their site. Virtually anyone can obtain a Facebook account now and the average Facebook profile contains a full name, an address, a screen name and an e-mail address, among many other personal information. Facebook users need to be cautious - you never know what someone could be looking for.
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