Because it is so evident that Facebook and other social networking sites have become integral parts of today's society, they are even being considered in college admissions processes! A
recent study has revealed that up to 80% of college admissions officers have begun searching their applicants online, and being portrayed positively is key in the process. But, there are ways that students can be sure to present the best image possible, the website says. For starters, people should never post anything negative or discriminatory. They should make sure that their friends comments are not crude, as well. Also, profile pictures should always be kept modest, considering they are the photos that a recruiter is first shown. And finally, users be "proactive" about privacy settings, making sure that they are constantly checking that what they want to be private is actually private. But should students be forced to worry about their Facebook pages when there are so many other aspects of the application process to focus on? Does it make sense that because Facebook is such a large part of our lifestyles today, that a profile can be a deciding factor in the decision? Or is it an invasion of privacy, and admissions officers should stick to looking at the things students actually submit?
Personally, I do not think colleges should be able to look at our Facebook pages because it can give them a negative first impression of us. By looking at someone's Facebook page you can learn a lot about a person. However, every student acts differently when interacting with friends, classmates, teachers, or bosses. By looking at a student's Facebook page, it is almost like having an interview...but without the student's knowledge. A Facebook page is like a bad interview for a student and may jeopardize a student's future by a picture or status that a friend posted.
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