Interactive Web communities such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and College Confidential are great for keeping in touch and expanding your network. But as is the case with any major advancement in technology, there are important measures users must take to control the impressions they are giving to other Internet users. Even if your day-to-day activities are “above board,” endless opportunities for misinterpretation exist online—and in most cases you won’t get a chance to explain what you really meant. Learning a few guidelines for online social interaction will help you save face in the long run.
The (Big) Upside of Staying Connected
There are many ways to create a Web presence that benefits your social, academic, and professional life. You can:
- Find out about schools or companies you’re interested in by viewing their institutional profiles as well as the personal pages of their employees and/or students.
- Show off your “good side” by organizing your profile in a way that accentuates your accomplishments, interests, humor, wit, writing skills, and overall personality.
- Reconnect with people from your past for recommendations and advice.
- Get involved with charitable organizations and volunteer efforts.
- Keep track of social, academic, and professional events using built-in calendars and alerts.
- Record your thoughts in an interactive blog or journal.
Online Activities to Avoid
Unfortunately, social networking can be an equally powerful in generating the wrong kind of attention. Here are some tips for maintaining a private life while enjoying all that the Web has to offer.
- Adjust your profile settings so that only designated individuals can view it, and set limits on friends’ ability to “tag” your photos or comments (which can allow your information to be accessed by people outside your private network). Also, make sure you’re alerted when you’re mentioned on someone else’s profile or conversation thread.
- Post only pictures, blogs, and comments that you would share with an employer, classmate, parent, or friend. Remember that once a digital imprint is made, it is extremely difficult to erase—even after you close your account.
- Understand the nature of every relationship. A particular instructor may be very easy to talk to, but remember that he or she is still in a position of implicit authority and should be kept somewhat separate from your peer interaction.
- Never give out addresses, social security numbers, or banking information online. If a social network asks for these items, it could be a fraudulent Web site.
- All information you post is time-stamped—don’t post comments or blogs during class or work time.
- Just as you would in real life, keep your religious and political interaction to a minimum while online to avoid offending other users or creating conflicts of interest.
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