Facebook.com, a nationwide phenomenon among college students, has great features as well as dangers.
Facebook, according to CBS News, has over 2.8 million registered users at more than 800 colleges and universities.
Sophomore biology major Tiffany Bouldin said, "There are several great things about Facebook. For instance, you can keep up friends attending various schools around the nation; there's an announcement board to post messages and upcoming events."
Susanna Gott, a freshman art major, said, "It's a nice way to get to know people and connect with high school and middle school friends."
"Facebook is attractive because it keeps you in the know of what events are going on around campus. One bad thing about it is that its addictive and you end up on Facebook instead of doing other important things," said Erikka Jackson, a sophomore psychology major.
According to Chief Jeffrey Slyke, director of university police and campus safety, Web sites like Facebook are attractive not only to students looking to socialize online, but also to predators.
Facebook.com, which is now available for high school students, should be used with caution.
"People need to understand that when you're exposing yourself personally on Web sites like Facebook and putting personal information out there about who you are, your birthday, where you live, you're allowing stalkers and sexual predators to feed off that information. You're also posing a risk of identity theft as well as stalking and being exposed to sexual predators," Slyke said.
Blogs and sites like Facebook pose dangers when students put their personal information online.
"Some students will put their home address and phone number and other really personal info online for everyone to see," Bouldin said.
"Some people will use it for the wrong reasons. I think it's scary, the idea that some people will take advantage of someone putting their address and other info on Facebook. All I have is my e-mail address," Jackson said.
Facebook offers privacy protection that many don't use.
Once logged onto the Web site, a user can simply click the privacy tab on the far left and customize their settings.
"People don't really think about the possible danger. You hear about Facebook and how cool it is and you just want to join," said sophomore nursing major Shandreka Poplar.
"I think a lot of times our technology is our own worst enemy. Though there are some obvious advantages to having good technology, we have to use it with common sense," Slyke said.
For more info about online safety, visit http://www.campussafetymagazine.com/Articles/?ArticleID=17.
