Oracle Online

For students unfamiliar with Facebook, it is a social networking site that began in February of 2004, originally limited to college students. As of this November, Facebook states that “[it] now has over 10 million registered users across over 40,000 regional, work, college and high school networks.” This astonishing number might make people wonder why students are so intrigued by Facebook and what they are actually doing on it.

“I generally log on, check my home page, then my profile, followed by my messages, and finally I sort through new ‘going-ons’ with my friends and groups,” said first-year Mike Schuster, one of the millions of Facebook users. “It provides a lot of beneficial things when considering ways to keep in touch with friends and family, both far and near.”

Although this may seem like the easiest approach when contacting friends, it may not be the greatest one. “There is a lot that is lost in between the lines,” said first-year Adam Hanson. “You can’t tell if someone is serious, because you can’t hear their tone of voice or see their body language.”

The privacy settings included in Facebook are what really set it apart from many other social-networking websites. Students have found these privacy settings more and more useful as they begin applying for jobs.

“A significant number of employers do check the sites, and all indications are that the percentage of employers checking will grow,” said Career Development Center Director, Rich Manke.

“I have heard of some employers looking at it, and during an interview I had one employer indirectly ask me about it,” added Hamline alumnus Francis Baidoo.

Pictures showing underage drinking and partying can make employers think twice about hiring a certain person. However, with the privacy controls that Facebook offers, users are able to completely block off their profile to anyone who is not listed as a friend, making it impossible for employers to see their page.

Many different high school and college athletic coaches can also scan through pages to make sure their players are staying on task.

“I have a cousin who plays soccer and she cannot be seen in pictures holding alcohol since she is underage,” said Baidoo.

The simple solution to that is to just not upload any inappropriate photos. However, not all coaches go to the extent of referencing Facebook.

“I believe we trust our guys to do the right things in their lives. I have never looked at Facebook,” said Hamline’s head football coach, Paul Miller.

Facebook, with help from other social-networking services, has defined the millenial generation. Cultural implications aside, the enormous rise in popularity of social networking sites has clarified how our generation communicates. Time will ultimately be the judge of whether their benefits are worth their risks.