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Chris Vollum, Facebook 101 Facilitator
There
isn't a teenager anywhere (and many adults) who doesn't know what 'Facebook'
is.
This is a social networking phenomenon that has opened up a world
through the internet. There are 134 million users now on Facebook and
18 million of them are in Canada. In fact, it is the most visited site
in Canada. Wall Street now estimates the company at $15 billion.
Unfortunately, it also has a dark side that everyone and, particularly,
parents should know about. There are more than 35,000 unmonitored
third-party 'fun' applications but, there's more than that.
According to expert Chris Vollum, "Unfortunately, Facebook has also
become a major cyber-bullying tool, an invasion of privacy and, in some
cases, should be a major concern to parents." A father, Chris' 15
year-old-daughter wanted to go on Facebook and it was then that he began
to research it. "What I found out every parent and every student should
know and so I set about trying to help others understand it."
The Bluewater School District has blocked Facebook from access in its
system as as the Halton Catholic School Baord and the Halton Public
Board is currently in the process of blocking it.
"I know kids think it's fun and, perhaps, used in the right way it is,"
says Vollum, "but they must be made aware of the pitfalls. They don't
realize that once something is on there, it's on forever. A potential
employer can access information, universities are now using it to see if
there are any sordid details to potential students they be allowing into
schools and, of course, the bullying is escalating."
Kids are not the only ones to be involved in Facebook problems. Adult
Identity Theft is huge through Facebook and it is the number one target
for hackers. "There are preventative measures that users can take,"
explains Vollum, "but you have to realize, once your information is out
there, it's there for anyone to view and read. Also, you may think that
you can leave the site at any time but, all information and photos you
have put onto Facebook remain forever.
Vollum
lectures to parent and teacher groups and has begun speaking to students
themselves in schools. "Kids, more often than not, don't realize the
capability that Facebook has for information archiving and that, once
their name is on there, it stays."
(next column)
13/01/2009 04:24 PM |
(continued)
There are
ten tips that Vollum readily gives out:
1. Your Facebook experience begins with "Adding a Friend". Before
doing that, ask yourself this question. "Would I trust this person
alone in my home with mine and my family's most valuable possessions and
information?" If the answer is no, don't add them.
2. Never, ever give your Facebook password out to anyone. Ever!
3. Remember, what you put on the the Internet stays there forever! You
can do your best to hide your information and pictures, but you can
never control who might see them. So, it's best to post only positive
words, comments and pictures. Facebook is all about choices. The
choices you decide to post will reflect who you are, what you think
about in the world and what you value. Other people will judge you
based on the quality of the content you post and comment on.
4. On Facebook you can post personal information like things you enjoy
such as movies, music, special interests, clubs you're in and the school
you attend. Facebook keeps all this information. Be careful not to add
too much. NEVER post email addresses, cell phone or home phone numbers
or your house address.
5. If you decide to add a 'fun' application such as Bumper Stickers or
Greeting Cards, you are giving the developer of that application ALL of
your information and all the information of your Facebook friends.
Often, that developer has no security.
6. Do NOT post any pictures or comments that are embarrassing of you or
your friends that could lead to cyber-bullying. Play it safe. Also do
NOT 'tag' your friends in any photos. That photo automatically goes out
to their entire Friends' list.
7. Make sure that in our 'Privacy Settings' under "Profile" your
'Photos Tagged of Me' is set to "ONLY ME".
8. Many employers, college and university leaders are now checking your
Facebook profile to see what kind of material you are posting ... make
sure it is positive.
9. Always leave your Status Updates EMPTY. Updating mean you reveal
where you are or what you are doing and it's information that a friend
or anyone else can use.
10. NEVER use your own picuture as your profile picture. It can easily
be copied and transferred to someone else's computer and changed to
embarrass you.
For more information: email:
whatisfacebook@gmail.com |
