Think Before You Blog
- posted: 19 June 2007
- scrollspecial@byui.edu
It’s not what you know but who you know. It seems, therefore, opportunistic to use social networking sites to provide oneself with more connections. What some might not realize is that the information they are providing through social networking sites can ultimately undermine their employment opportunities.
In today’s networked society, who you know can help you in your quest for a successful career. People are often willing to employ nepotistic practices in the business world. Whether it is ethical or not, a father is more likely to hire their own child over someone else’s child even if the father’s own child is less qualified for the position. That’s just human nature.
Networking is the idea of making contacts and building relationships with people in the professional world in order to bolster one’s chances of excelling in the business world. Today, social networking sites claim to make it easier to establish these connections with all types of people.
One popular site, www.MySpace.com, allows aspiring musicians to post samples of their music online. People who are networked to them are able to listen to their music and provide feedback on what they like and/or dislike.
While these sites may appear to be harmless, fun people who use them need to be aware of the risks associated with social networking sites. Even profiles posted on sites such as www.FaceBook.com, a site that proclaims exclusivity, can be viewed by more people than is often intended.
Employers are becoming more aware of these tools and many are using them to their advantage in the hiring process. An employer wishing to learn more about job candidates will run searches on social networking sites and review candidates’ profiles before making a job offer. Candidates with questionable social networking profiles are often turned down.
Students are especially prone to thinking what they post on the internet is all in fun and no one will take it serious. The fact is employers do worry about the image one will bring with them to the company and they expect that image to be professional.
Other worries can also arise from the use of social networking sites. Identity theft and sexual predators are also a chief concern of people who scrutinize social networking sites.
People need to be cautious about posting any personal information on the Internet. Even though these sites allow adding to and deleting any posted information, the digital information is so easily replicated that once it’s been posted, someone can take that information. Simply removing information from a profile won’t stop it from being distributed if it has already been stolen by someone else.
Remember to always consider the implications of your actions before you start posting information about yourself. It is never a good idea to assume that there is a way to have control over who accesses online information. The purpose of the Internet is to make information available, not to restrict it. 
