What seems like an innocent profile for a user can turn out to be something completely different. All over the country, websites such as Myspace and Facebook are taking over the lives of students. The purpose of these websites is for students to interact with acquaintances and to keep in touch with old friends.
Included in these websites are the abilities to post personal photos, messages, and join specialized groups. Up until recently, all of these features were open for public view. With new advancements, the websites have the ability to block access to the public, only letting a person’s “friends” permission to view.
Recently, many businesses have been using these webpage’s to search for future interviewees. According to ABC News, workplace contributor Tory Johnson prepared a recent interview with a woman by searching for her profile on Myspace.com and Facebook.com. Johnson said “My first question to this particular woman, after having read her profile on the popular online social network, was “What’s a watermelon floater?”
It turns out that the woman passed her test because she replied in an honest response asking Johnson if she had Myspace as well. This news has led many students around Cabrini worried at times those future employers could prejudge a person before they even know them.
Angie Peso, senior political science and philosophy major, said “one’s social life, of course, is going to be entirely different from their work ethic and if they’re accessing these webpage’s, I wouldn’t doubt for a second they would pre-judge you.”
Others believe that because there is a privacy setting and it is their own choice to have a profile on Myspace and Facebook.
Cristina D’Amelio, senior psychology major, said, “I think because I have the option to change my privacy setting on Myspace and Facebook, I’m not worried about future employers finding me.” D’Amelio originally changed her settings so her mother would stop checking up on her. She then realized it was her best bet since employers had the ability to keep a watchful eye on her as well.
Whether or not a student chooses to have an online profile, they should know that they have the option for a privacy feature so that unwanted people cannot view their site. Charlie Grugan, senior graphic Design major believes “It’s kind of like the business getting into your personal life. And business and personal shouldn’t mix.”
