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FACEBOOK* DO’s and DON’T’s

DO… Use Facebook to stay in touch with friends and make new ones. Use Facebook to create your best image, since anyone with access to an “.edu” account can see your page. Google yourself every once in a while to check on your public image. Use Facebook to get involved with the campus community and learn what’s happening. Use Facebook to advertise your organization’s events. Use Facebook’s privacy settings on your account to monitor who can look at your profile. Use Facebook’s customer support page since it contains valuable information about privacy controls and other important safety information. Use good judgment with your Facebook account and postings!  What do you want future employers, administrators, faculty, and maybe even your parents to see? Remember that the administrators are not monitoring Facebook, but may act on any violations of law or University policy if brought to their attention. Just because you don’t want them to look at your page doesn’t mean they can’t or won’t. DON’T… Post overly personal information like cell phone numbers, dorm address, class schedule, etc. unless you feel comfortable being contacted by strangers.  Students have been stalked by uninvited viewers of their Facebook pages when they posted overly personal information. Post pictures of your friends without their permission.  It may be considered a legitimate invasion of their privacy, or may jeopardize their chances for a job, or their scholarships. Think that just because you have to have an “.edu” account, that you are safe from any harm or consequences for the content of your page. Forget that once you post something, it may live forever, even if you take it down. Think that Facebook is the only website of concern.  These same principles apply to MySpace.com, Friendster.com, etc.. Be afraid to get creative with your profile.  Have fun and express yourself legally and responsibly.  There are plenty of ways you can create a positive self image.  You can impress your peers and community members and abide by all university polices, and laws!   Thanks to Kathleen McCabe, Director of Peer Education at Creighton University for allowing us to adapt many points from “What you need to know about Facebook”.

The University of Maine , Orono, Maine 04469 207-581-1110 A Member of the University of Maine System