E-mail: the new social network

Everything nowadays seems to be social networking. Facebook, Facebook, a little MySpace, and more Facebook. And everybody appears to put just about everything on these social networking sights to share with the rest of the world. A constant conversation we revert back to in class is how people should be wary of what they place on their social networking pages because recruiters and possible employers are scanning these pages so they get a better look at the possible employee.

Is this right? I don't think so; but if the information is out there and is open to others, why wouldn't they dig it up and check it out? It seems like a smart business move if they can avoid hiring people that could potentially become a liability.

Well things may be changing if the newest form of social networking has anything to say. And that would be e-mail. There are some new applications, like one called Thunderbird, that will allow internet users to use their e-mail accounts as their social networking page. This can limit what content is shared to people in user's address book based solely on the activity they have with them whether it's business or personal.

I feel this is the future because it will help limit the potential "dirt" others can find on you, and also simplify things for all users. Instead of having to go to several pages to check your e-mail, facebook, etc., it can turn into a hit on one website for all. In a society where time is everything, this seems to be the way to go.

Does Facebook really give you less privacy?

Okay i had a long weekend at my conference track meet, where me and brian killed people and won one of our relays, so I'm getting into this, enjoy it because its right..

This seems to be a hot topic nowadays and i touched on it briefly in a previous blog because a team at my school got in trouble by the athletic administration for some questionable photos they were posting. But does facebook really give us less privacy?

I don't think it does because in the end we are the ones putting everything out there for the world to see. People aren't forcing us to put up a photos of ourself doing a 40 second keg stand. We think its sweet and we want the rest of the world to see. Is that a problem? No, not a all. If you can do a 40 second keg stand more power to you. But don't go around complaining if you get grief from an employer or someone else.

Privacy settings also allow you to only have your friends view that sensitive material, and you can even limit some friends from seeing parts of your profile. So when it comes down to it, who make the final call as to how private or unprivate you want your facebook? You that's who.

I just wanted to link in the facebook privacy settings policy. Notice how often they use the word "YOU"