<p>Just a quick question about social networking sites and college admmissions. I've read that some schools do look at the applicant's profile. I mentioned this to my son- not that he has anything inappropriate on his or anything to hide. I just wanted him to be aware. He said they can't view it because it's set to private. Is this correct?</p>
<p>why take the chance of posting anything that can really put a person in a bad light- ie underage drinking pictures, etc</p>
<p>tell your son that nothing is "private" once its on the web</p>
<p>I've put my privacy settings on Facebook so that people outside of my friends list cannot see my profile. They can only see my profile picture if they search for my name, which is certainly nothing I would be embarassed about.</p>
<p>If you are using "friend" status for your security, then it goes without saying that you should be cautious about adding friends. I don't have a link, but a study I read about a few weeks ago described researchers who sent friend requests using invented profiles to a large number of social network users. The profiles were of similar age to the targets, and I assume used reasonably attractive profile photos. A significant percentage of these friend requests were accepted, even though the sender was unknown to the recipient.</p>
<p>And, of course, even a friend you know can copy a revealing/embarrassing photo and post it in public someplace else.</p>
<p>I think people are putting way too much faith in "privacy settings." If someone wants to see your stuff, they will find a way. I would also not be surprised at all if administrators of various "groups" on Facebook can see everything posted by everyone in the group. (For example, if you're a member of your high school's Facebook group, I would not be surprised at all if your high school principal can see everything about members of your high school's group, friends or not. At least I would insist on that if I were in charge!)</p>
<p>I'd like to point out that if you signed up as an authentic school user (by getting an invite from someone who has had a FB profile at your school), privacy is turned off by default within school (e.x. profiles of anyone within my school are viewable, even if they are not your friend.)</p>
<p>It's also worth mentioning that said classmates may be applying to similar schools and are willing to do anything to get in- such as, say, sabotaging another applicant with an embarrassing picture.</p>
<p>Even people that you consider to be friends might stab you in the back later...</p>
<p>I wonder if colleges have the right to spy student profiles on myspace or facebook. Won't this lead to law suit? It's not worth for colleges to do that.</p>
<p>There are researchers doing research on social networks who can get access to all facebook an myspace information. In the end, this information is public and you should treat it that way. Post nothing you would not want anyone else to see. That is the only way your material is secure.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>Won't this lead to law suit?</p> </blockquote>
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<p>If they were hacking into your account, sure. If they were viewing your information in accordance with site policies, no.</p>
<p>I don't think colleges have the time to spend a lot of time messing around in every applicant's social network. I could see that data being used, perhaps, if an admissions officer had some concerns about a particular applicant, or just wanted to get to know a promising applicant better than the application materials allowed.</p>
<p>As far as the lawsuit thing, probably not. If your privacy settings gave them access, then they used the site as intended. If they hacked or impersonated, then you'd be open to sue them.</p>
<p>I'd be worried about classmates. Some top schools might have 10+ people applying (in my school, at least), and I believe that some of them might be tempted to do whatever it takes to get in- even if it means ruining another applicants chances. They can do it anonymously.</p>
<p>In the end, as Roger said, be careful and don't let stuff be posted that you wouldn't want someone (whoever they are or however few) else to see. I have image confirmation turned on- nobody can post pictures of me without my approval. </p>
<p>The other thing...
When you post User Content to the Site, you authorize and direct us to make such copies thereof as we deem necessary in order to facilitate the posting and storage of the User Content on the Site. By posting User Content to any part of the Site, you automatically grant, and you represent and warrant that you have the right to grant, to the Company an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to use, copy, publicly perform, publicly display, reformat, translate, excerpt (in whole or in part) and distribute such User Content for any purpose on or in connection with the Site or the promotion thereof, to prepare derivative works of, or incorporate into other works, such User Content, and to grant and authorize sublicenses of the foregoing. You may remove your User Content from the Site at any time. If you choose to remove your User Content, the license granted above will automatically expire, however you acknowledge that the Company may retain archived copies of your User Content.
</p>
<p>So, by signing up for an account, and doing anything on your profile, you are agreeing to give Facebook rights to sell and use your pictures. However they want, without compensating you (hey, we gave you a Facebook! And you agreed!), and without your permission. </p>
<p>Bottom line: If you wouldn't mind having having whatever on your Facebook publicly available to everyone and anyone, don't post it.</p>
<p>And for those who think "Oh, college people NEVER check Facebook."
Brown</a> does it.
Standford</a> doesn't, other schools do it for undergrads
UVA</a> does it</p>
<p>Other schools are believed to do it. The general consensus is:
-If something feels missing/suspect about an app, they check.
-If they get a tip, they check.</p>
<p>It's estimated that a lot of colleges do it and won't admit it.</p>
<p>Roger, in the situation I was referring to these people are not "hacking". They get permission. I know several who, for example, have all the face book stuff for given universities. Ultimately, they are only interested in the social connections, not the content per se. Of course, that could be a problem. Look at the people who do not want to use things like "EasyPass" for highways and bridges so that no one (e.g., parents) knows where they are going. As for Adcoms, I would guess they only check when something triggers it in the app, much like the IRS with an audit.</p>
<p>There are privacy settings, but just don't put anything stupid up there.</p>
<p>Some colleges get tens of thousands of applications, and only spend a very limited time on each one... Colleges don't have time to go flipping through everyone's facebook or myspace pages</p>
<p>"Colleges" may not, at least not formally, but the admissions counselors are human, computer literate (I assume), and probably curious like the rest of us. If they're out there surfing the Internet and come across something, or are on MySpace for their own use, don't you think they could say, "Gee, that name sounds familiar - didn't I just read his app?" Don't think that things they stumble upon don't become part of their decision-making process.</p>
<p>haha ive wondered about this</p>
<p>
[quote]
Don't think that things they stumble upon don't become part of their decision-making process.
[/quote]
do you know where this has happened to someone?</p>
<p>I would love to have the time necessary during the admissions process to check profiles on Facebook. Though, if I did, by some miracle, have that much time, I'd spent it playing Scrabble or doing I actually wanted to do. Still, it isn't unreasonable to exercise appropriate caution when deciding what to put up in a more or less public profile. I'd be more concerned about your high school finding things on there than a college. </p>
<p>Having said that, I've had entrepreneurial applicants look me up on Facebook and try to add me as a 'Friend.' I don't mind the attempts, but I had an applicant last year do that with a profile picture where he was holding two open beers. That applicant didn't demonstrate the sort of practical intelligence that would be appealing to me. </p>
<p>In summary, paranoia may not be necessary, but common sense is always a good decision.</p>