<p>My D is currently cast in a performance for a professional children's theatre for a show. She has done several shows with them over the years as has a cluster of her friends. They recently learned that some of the company staff who the kids were friends with on facebook were basically monitoring their sites. This came to light when one HS student had a party and she and the other kids who had attended were 'called into the office' so to speak, and questioned about it. This has happened to a few others also, when they have been asked about things posted on the site.</p>
<p>Do companies have the right to monitor and question contract workers about facebook entries? If they do, should they notify the students that they are doing this?
there is no clause in the contract about behavior once out of the theatre.
D doesn't feel like she can just defriend them all, since she gets other work via at least one of the employees and doesn't want to sever this.</p>
<p>Yep. The company I work for monitors the Facebooks of it's employees, and some have been terminated due to inappropriate content. I have heard of high schools monitoring the sites of its students. </p>
<p>I can't comment if a company has the "right", but if an employee says he or she works for a particular company on their Facebook page, and his or her posts or content on Facebook is unsavory, the company could view that it reflects badly on them. And working for a company in an "at will" state, meaning the employee could be fired for wearing blue on Thursday, should make employees be on their best behavior at all times, including how they depict themselves out of work.</p>
<p>On the other hand, my step-son-in-law was recently told he did not get a job because he did not have a Facebook account. He purposely did not get one because he did not want companies looking for him. He was told by the company that he was outdated and not up with the times.</p>
<p>Seems like the lesson is appropriate usage, something that you would not be ashamed of.</p>
<p>I am just amazed at what some young people post on their facebook pages. Pictures of obviously drunken parties, foul language, rude comments -- it does give you a valuable insight into how they see themselves -- or want others to see them.</p>
<p>There have been other discussions of this, although at the moment I would be hard-pressed to find it. I agree with susanr64 - if the information is out there for anyone to view, it is fair game for employers to be displeased with it, and to take whatever actions they consider appropriate.</p>
<p>Facebook started as student networking ; however, it has gone far beyond that now. I know that colleges have been known to check out applicants; casting agents "friend" actors; teachers "friend" students. </p>
<p>No one should put anything on the Internet that they would object to being public to everyone.... My caution to my D was if she wouldn't want her grandma or her minister to see it, it shouldn't be on there.</p>
<p>(And, by the way - although it may not be legal or "fair", I know people have shared their password with others, so they can see something on someone's page who hasn't accepted them as a friend. And, I'm sure there are other techno-ways of achieving the same thing, that I am ignorant of, but that computer-savvy kids can accomplish.)</p>
<p>" ... but if an employee says he or she works for a particular company on their Facebook page, and his or her posts or content on Facebook is unsavory, the company could view that it reflects badly on them."</p>
<p>Susanr64, Thank you for this quote. I believe this will be the most compelling comment for D to remember. I do have access to her site and there is nothing too interesting on it, but not so for all her friends, so I assume hers at times has things I would be less desirous of seeing. Since it is a children's theatre company, I do understand that they want to be represented well if others see that they are discussing the company.
I will remind her of all the other items too. Facebook is odd for me, but for her it has kept her in touch with directors and choreograhers who have contacted her via facebook to audition for specific things and such, so it seems to have a valuable role in the business.
THanks all</p>
<p>Students should be careful what they post and put out there in the world to see. But they should also be aware of Facebook settings. One day my D was told by a theatre faculty they had been looking at her FB with another member of the faculty. Luckily my D isn't one to post profanity or drunken parties. My immediate concern was how they could see her FB when they weren't a "friend" on FB and she told me when she joined the college network online she was by default visable to the entire population. I had her correct this. The thought that over 28,000 potential stalkers could be viewing her headshots made me nervous. </p>
<p>There are drop down menus on FB where you can specify who can see your profile or even parts of your profile such as information, photos, etc. Such as "no one", "everyone", "friends of friends" or "only friends". </p>
<p>FB has been a wonderful device for keeping in touch with my D while at school. She is my FB friend and I can see what she is doing and enjoy pictures of her she downloads to her profile. She posts little videos of herself on my FB wall. As the parent of a high school student you might think this impossible but you'd be amazed at how they change when they no longer live with you but 100's of miles away and miss you. </p>
<p>I also have a FB group for Parents of College Theatre Students where we share about the next phase after auditions which has been a wonderful support group. So FB has its positive side if used properly.</p>
<p>A general rule of thumb for all folks communicating with social networks - and email for that matter - is to “never post anything they wouldn't want to see on the front page of the newspaper” - not that it would go that far, but even after they pull pictures and pages off, cached versions can easily be found - even YEARS later. This is a very difficult concept for many young people, but they need to remember that almost anything can be retrieved after it has been deleted, etc. Difficulty looking forward into an unknown future and the general belief that “things like that only happen to other people” are but two of the excuses heard from kids who are blindsided by inappropriate or embarrassing social network pics and notes.</p>
<p>Think before you post and have friends take embarrassing pictures of you off their sites. Have fun, but have class...</p>
<p>
[quote]
There are drop down menus on FB where you can specify who can see your profile or even parts of your profile such as information, photos, etc. Such as "no one", "everyone", "friends of friends" or "only friends".
[/quote]
The other thing people have to realize is that you may have YOUR settings on private, but a friend could copy a picture and post it where you do not have control of it any longer. There is no such thing as a private photo once it is shared with anyone. </p>
<p>Also a major company I worked for considered things that may reflect poorly on the company to be their business even if it was on your own time. If someone could identify you as belonging to the company, you had to behave as if you were representing the company. At least they were very up front about it and you knew what you were getting into.</p>