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Get Facebook Outta Our Schools

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Facebook Deemed To Have Limited Educational Value

The province of Nova Scotia is taking a bold step in eliminating the distractions of social networking in high schools by having their servers screen out Internet services such as Facebook, Myspace, Gmail, and Hotmail. Nova Scotia school boards have determined that social networks like Facebook do not fit within their educational outcomes as it pertains to the use of technology.

While other provinces (and states) are already debating the merits of filtering out Facebook, Nova Scotia has already filtered out Facebook access from its schools.

Of course with the proliferation of mobile Facebook applications on cellular phones, the school boards will have to create policies that limit their use on school premises, something that parents are already challenging, due to the necessity of family communications and other emergenccy considerations.

While Nova Scotia is setting a precedent in screening out Facebook from access in high schools, many other regions already use filtering software to prevent teachers and students from accessing “time wasting” services such as Hotmail, Youtube, and other non-educational Internet resources.

Written on 23 November 2008 by admin under Facebook Filtering with No Comments
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Abusing The Power Of Facebook

Facebook Can Be More Powerful Than The Media

I came across a disturbing story on Google News about a Vancouver youth promoting “National Kick A Ginger Day“. The youth stated that this campaign that promotes attacking red-headed people was only “a joke”, however it a huge example of how the power of Facebook can be used to influence large numbers of people.

You need go back no further than the United States presidential election to see the strength and power of communication through social networking and Facebook, as there were literally hundreds (if not thousands) of support groups and campaigns for several presidential candidates. And by using Facebook, it was very easy to join groups and share ideologies and other thoughts. With 150 million members, Facebook has a reach that can potentially exceed that of many major media outlets, and without the same code of ethics or level of journalistic integrity.

But the power of Facebook (as demonstrated by the ginger campaign) can be dangerous when used inappropriately–whether it is a joke, or information is used to destroy character or beliefs. It doesn’t take very much effort to create a new group, invite members to join, and then propagate your own information.

The Internet, as we all know, is a massive ocean of information, and our ability to instantly transmit news, thoughts and ideas around the world is powerful. And Facebook is just another method to facilitate potential abuse of information. Be careful how you use it!

Written on 22 November 2008 by admin under Facebook Abuse with No Comments
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Let’s Agree Not To Be Facebook Friends

It’s Okay To Say ‘No’ To Friend Requests

There is enough social awkwardness in the real world without having to worry about making social faux pas’s on the Internet. But with Facebook thrusting our lives into everyone’s living rooms (or computer rooms), it’s easier to run into people you knew, and more difficult to avoid them.

If you were in the supermarket and spotted someone you didn’t care for in high school, you could turn around and walk the other way without them noticing, nod your head and say “oh hey!” and just keep walking, or you could be polite and chit-chat for a few moments before going on with your life.

But with Facebook, and its 150 million users, you could have former friends, lovers, and casual acquaintances trying to tap back into your life and you have nowhere to hide.

Yes, you certainly have the ability to turn down friend requests–you’re not under any social obligation to accept. But there are situations where you might accidentally accept a friend request (maybe from habit?) and all of a sudden you’ve let someone into your life that you’d rather have stayed outside.

With the Internet drawing new lines for social behaviours, it can be difficult finding where the boundaries should be set, especially when you’re actively using social networks like Facebook or Myspace. But if someone is asking to be your friend, someone you knew but never considered as friend, don’t be tempted to say “yes” out of pity, and then regret the decision. It’s easier to say “no” than to say “yes” and then remove them as friend. You’re better off just leaving them on the outside. There is a good chance that they’re just starting out on Facebook, and are maybe just looking to build up their friend numbers, just like you did when you started. :)

Written on 19 November 2008 by admin under Facebook Faux Pas with No Comments
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President-Elect Screening Applicants Using Facebook

Obama Using Internet Communications To Filter Potential Staff Members

barack obama facebook blackberryIf you are hoping to earn yourself a position with the new administration, you better hope that your Facebook profile is squeaky-clean, free from any potentially embarrassing or harmful posts, pictures, comments, or questionable friends, because Team Obama is screening applicants through Facebook, email, MSN, blogs, and personal websites in order to find qualified individuals for various positions.

President-Elect Barack Obama utilized the Internet heavily for his presidential campaign, and he is continuing to use Internet resources such as Facebook, Myspace, and others to help staff positions by screening out potentially harmful candidates through their public opinions, associations, and public profiles.

I can just imagine how much easier Senator McCarthy’s job would have been had be been able to access such valuable resources such as Facebook. Just think of how much time would have been saved in public enquiries, investigations, and interviews if his committee could view Facebook profiles and blacklist Americans remotely!

Hopefully Obama still believes in free speech and is not opposed to dissenting opinions, figures of speech, and out-of-context expressions, otherwise, social networking will soon become the doom for many qualified individuals whose only mistake might be a lack of discretion of judgement.

Written on 15 November 2008 by admin under Facebook Screening with No Comments
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Facebook Teachers Taught A Lesson

Teachers Disciplined Over Facebook Comments

teacher facebookTeachers are not held to the same standards as other professionals. Since they are the ones who are in a position of authority and trust, their morals and ethics are put under much more scrutiny, especially since they are the ones who are teaching our children.

The lines get a little bit blurred now when it comes to privacy and propriety, especially when it concerns Facebook and other social networks. Is it appropriate for a high school teacher to be seen holding a beer at a social function? Is it okay if we see images of an elementary school teacher smoking with her friends? The levels of professionalism that we hold to these educators are much more stringent than other business individuals or workers in most other industries. It can be a gray area when it comes to understanding what is appropriate to publish on Facebook and what can be deemed inappropriate and subject to disciplinary action by school board officials.

But because of these circumstances, teachers should also be much smarter than everyone else, and should be self-censoring their own content, especially when it is fairly obvious that questionable images and comments will most certainly be made public. In one example, teachers of a Charlotte high school were disciplined for posting objectionable content and images on their Facebook profiles. Several teachers in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district were facing disciplinary action for posting such comments as “teaching in the most ghetto school in Charlotte”,  racial slurs, and posing in provocative poses.

When are people (including teachers) going to realize that Facebook is an open door, and that publishing this type of material on their Facebok profiles, their Twitter pages, or their personal blogs is just going to cause trouble? People need to remember that there really is no invasion of privacy when they freely post their content to public Internet websites such as Facebook. If teachers can’t understand these simple principles of information flow, then what does it say about our education systems???

Written on 13 November 2008 by admin under Facebook Privacy with No Comments
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Alcohol And Facebook Just Don’t Mix

If You Drink, Don’t Type

We already know that Facebooking while drinking can get you in a lot of trouble, because you’re more likely to be looser with typing, what with your judgement being all impaired and whatnot. But posting pictures of yourself drinking in a public restaurant, when you’re not legal age, not only gets you in trouble with the law, but also gets the restaurant in trouble.

While you might think it’s cool to brag to your friends that you were able to served in a restaurant when you weren’t yet legal age, it’s probably a better idea to boast in person rather than online, where your drinking exploits are announced to criminal investigators, police agencies, by-law enforcement officials, and other authorities who use your Facebook information as proof of your silly antics.

Adults already understand that posting pictures of their wild parties or other drunken adventures can cause them their careers, or jeopardize their chances to establish them. You’re just facilitating them by promoting your dark side on Facebook.

Showing pictures of yourself having a glass of wine at a family dinner might be one thing, but underage drinking is still a serious offense in many regions, and there’s no reason to facilitate your own demise by promoting your underage drinking on Facebook. As you can see, it’s just going to get you (and others) in trouble.

Written on 12 November 2008 by admin under Facebook Faux Pas with No Comments
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You May Be A Facebook Addict

Facebook Can Be Just As Addicting As Alcohol Or Video Games

No, this isn’t one of those quizzes that will test your personality and determine your whole existence based on a short series of questions. Instead, this is just a small wake-up call to see if perhaps you are spending just a little too much time on Facebook.

Keeping in touch with friends and family and coworkers is fine, if you do it in moderation, and it doesn’t detract from other Real-Life ™ activities. So, if you log in to your Facebook account in the morning for a few minutes, or you sign in at night, after work when the kids have all gone to bed, you are probably not a Facebook addict.

But, if you are a person who constantly needs to know what all your friends are doing, and you are sitting in front of your computer refreshing the page waiting for new updates, then perhaps you are hooked on Facebook.

When you go to work, is it necessary for you to log in to Facebook on your breaks? Are you letting Facebook interfere with your work, putting aside tasks and assignments to see if you have any new messages or friend requests?

Are you using the Facebook application on your phone? Do you commute to and from work every day with your mobile Facebook in your face the entire time? Are you avoiding interaction with other real people because you’re more interested in what people typed in what they had for breakfast? Maybe you are addicted to Facebook!

Like any other addiction, you have to understand if Facebook is changing the way you think, interact, or organize your schedule. If you find that you are compromising activities, such as household chores, personal hygiene, shopping, or eating, then you might be a Facebook addict.

If you think you are just a little bit too attached to Facebook, then think about talking to a medical professional to see what can be done to curb your interests in this online social network, and focus your will on other normal pursuits.

Facebook in moderation is the key. It doesn’t need to become an obsession.

Written on 11 November 2008 by admin under Facebook Addiction with No Comments
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For Some Facebook Is Foot-In-Mouthbook

Stupid Is As Stupid Types

facebook privacySome people just don’t have a clue who is reading their Facebook profile. But one former football player has just gotten the extra point driven home when he was released from the University Of Texas Longhorns football club.

Buck Burnette, a sophomore offensive lineman from Wimberley, was let go from the football team Nov. 5 for posting a racially insensitive remark about President-elect Barack Obama on his Facebook page. We are presuming that Mr. Burnette used the “N” word, and not in the way that rappers glamorize it in music.

Now there are stupid things that people say that get them in trouble, but posting something in writing is even more stupid and stupid. When you are thinking about destroying your own personal character and reputation, you would be far better off taking out a page in the local newspaper, because at least then, only the locals (and not the entire Internet) will be able to read your comments.

Your Facebook page is just like a personal diary or journal, one that has one of those tiny little locks on the cover that can be picked with a paperclip. And to paraphase what your mother always said: “If you don’t have anything nice to type, don’t type anything at all.”

Written on 11 November 2008 by admin under Facebook Privacy with No Comments
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Get The Nigerian Scammers Outta My Facebook

Nigerian Scammers Need Friends Too

facebook Nigerian scammersIt seems that no place is sacred when it comes to the notorious Nigerian email scammers, as now it appears they have infilitrated Facebook with their fraud tactics.

Normally in Facebook you only receive emails from friends, but social networks are being targeted more and more by scammers, and the Nigerian email scam is just one more reason why you need to be careful with whom you accept as friend. Not only that, Facebook accounts can be compromised, and your information  can be taken and stored, shared and spread around the Net quicker than it takes to type LOL.

These virtual con artists are also posing as your friends. One Facebook friend reported that their friend’s mother asked them to send $2,000 to the UK to pay for an emergency flight because her credit cards had been frozen. While the friend was ready to help a friend in need, she first decided to call the woman in England first to get more information, only to find out that there was no flight emergency. The mother’s Facebook account had been compromised and the scammer had sent messages to the entire friends list trying to get money.

People are vulnerable enough on the Internet as it is, but with more and more fraud and illicit activities  becoming prevalent, you don’t even know if you can trust your Facebook friends anymore, if they really are your friends.

Written on 10 November 2008 by admin under Facebook Fraud with 1 Comment
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Keep Your Party Life Private

While it might be natural to boast to your buddies about how drunk you got at the Halloween party, you might want to keep the particulars of that drunken night of costume madness off of your Facebook profile, and be sure to advise your friends to keep you out of those published photo albums, because all it takes is one compromising image of you with that tipsy girl in the kittten costume to cost you your career.

While you might think it okay to spend a Saturday night partying it up, the company you work for has an image to maintain, and inappropriate shenanigans by their top salesman could damage sales and business reputations.

And even if your boss is okay with your social activities, your friends’ employers might not have the same attitudes, and those wacky drunken pictures could lead to a dismissal. After all, you’re sharing your private life on the Internet, you know that wide-open-to-everyone-in-the-world network thingy.

And let’s remember that business recruiters are very active in social networks, digging up dirt, and doing their due diligence when looking for suitable personnel to hire (or fire). Yes, they look for references, but there’s nothing more revealing than websites full of party stories, trysts, pranks, and stunts.

If you’re okay with the world hearing about every social situationn where you toss back a few beers, then by all means, fill your Facebook profile with drunken, blurred photos of you and your drinking buddies. But try and use some judgement when you decide to share questionable photos or stories of your other friends who might be more concerned about keeping their jobs.

Written on 25 October 2008 by admin under Facebook Privacy with No Comments
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