Panel debates merits of Facebook social network

Since February 2004, it has spread across college campuses throughout the nation. In September 2005, it infiltrated high schools as well. One year later, it was opened to Internet users across the country. This phenomenon is Facebook, and it has acquired over 12 million registered users across over 40,000 regional, work, college and high school networks since its inception.

Wednesday night, the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) sponsored a panel to discuss Facebook and how its role in society is evolving along with the recent changes that have been made to its structure.

Speaking were Paul Chebator, associate dean for student development, Amy Vatour, career information services manager in the Career Center, Kenneth Lachlan, professor in the communications department, and Theresa Hamilton, A&S '09. The panel was moderated by Kelly Treseler, A&S '08.

Chebator emphasized that Facebook doesn't always deserve the negative connotation it seems to have in the professional world. It doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing if it is used correctly.

"I think [Facebook] is a great thing. People have said that it's destroying America, but they said that about television and they probably said that about telegraphs, too. It's how it's used. There is no reasonable expectation of privacy," said Chebator.

Chebator also stressed the importance of being cautious when posting on Facebook. Users should always consider the consequences of posting inappropriate pictures and comments online because employers may use them in the future to screen potential employees.

"Untagging" doesn't always eliminate an incriminating picture, either. Because search engines have their own caches, taking something off the Internet doesn't always mean that it is gone for good.

"When you post something you have to think, what about next year? What about five years from now, when you're trying to get a job?" said Chebator. This goes for professors who write recommendations for their students as well. "If you write a glowing recommendation for someone and their potential employers see your crazy Facebook profile, I look like a fool."

Chebator also highlighted the fact that Boston College doesn't monitor its students' Facebook accounts. If someone logs a complaint, however, administration will respond and investigate.

"We have looked at the Facebooks of kids coming in for disciplinary issues," said Chebator.

This policy, however, is not shared by schools across the country. Panelists discussed the ways in which Facebook has been used by other administrations, including that of Berry College, where campus police used Facebook to break up a party with underage drinking when a student invited the chief of police to the party through Facebook.

Another incident at the University of Oklahoma resulted in a United States Secret Service investigation after a student created a group titled, "We could all donate a dollar and raise millions of dollars to hire an assassin to kill the president and replace him with a monkey."

Even more shocking was the revelation that Facebook profiles can be used by Insurance Companies to raise prices.

"Insurance agencies will go onto the Facebook profiles of high school students and if they see pictures of alcohol, they will raise their rates," said Vautour.

Of course, the practice of using Facebook as a screening process doesn't stop there. Perhaps more immediately relevant to college-age students is the fact that graduate schools use Facebook to do background checks on prospective students.

Vautour discussed methods of preventing these practices from having negative effects.

"What you need to do is manage your digital reputation. 75 percent of jobs and internships are found through networking; you just have to do it in an appropriate way," said Vautour.

In the end, however, it really boils down to using common sense on the Internet. Using Facebook's safety features and declining from posting inappropriate pictures and comments will go a long way toward preventing Facebook from having any negative effects.

Lachlan discussed the psychological motivations for using Facebook, the most obvious being to facilitate social interactions.

"When you're alone in your room on the Internet, you're anonymous, which makes you more likely to say things that wouldn't otherwise be socially acceptable," said Lachlan.

Facebook changes the face of the Internet in the sense that it's impossible to be anonymous, because your life is online.

Hamilton presented Facebook from a students' point of view. "Facebook is great for remembering people's names and getting people's screen names, but friending someone on Facebook won't take a relationship past the Internet, because no one knows how to translate it back to real life," said Hamilton.

Whether Facebook is being used for making social connections or to network in the business world, Chebator can attest to the fact that Facebook may just be "the wave of the future."