Do colleges have the right to look at the social-networking sites of applicants? Why or why not? How careful are you about what you post on Facebook, Myspace or Twitter?
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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122170459104151023.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
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I think that this is a very interesting topic, and I feel that the answer could both ways. In my personal opinion, it depends on what the colleges are looking for and to what extent they ae reading into the site. I feel that teens nowadays tend to be too carefree about certain subjects-this being one of them. It is understandable for people to want to put up pictures of themselves, their friends, their family, hobbies, etc. However, I think it is unnecessary for people to put up pictures of risky things such as drinking, doing drugs, showing profanity, etc. In today's day in age people need to be very careful of what they expose about themselves because the public can find out almost anything. That being said, I think it is ok that colleges look at Facebook and MySpace. As long as a facebook status is not the final decision of admissions, I don't see a very serious problem with it.
-Amanda Connerton
I think colleges do have the right to look on peoples social-networking sites because it is a judge of character. Facebook is a public website and mostly anyone can see your page.High School graduates want to be viewed as adults so they should present themseleves online in respectable ways. Colleges don't want to accept applicants who present themsleves on facebook as rude or constently partying. After college with this competitive job market with job interviews they will check your facebook page so applicants should be held to the same strandards. Colleges rather take the nice , good student then the one partying with a red cup in their default picture. I am personally very careful about what i put on facebook for this reason. I want to present myself in a way that colleges and future job employers will admire.
-katie mcwilliams
People may argue that it is wrong for colleges to check up on you on facebook, myspace, twitter etc. People think that this is a privacy issue? If whatever you do is so private, DON'T PUT IT ON FACEBOOK. Facebook is not a diary, it's an internet blogging website that anybody in the world can view. People who have pictures of them drinking and doing illegal things are only hurting themselves. It's their choice to what they want to put online. Colleges should have every right to look at your facebook page. Even if you wanted to ban them from looking at it, you can't, because anybody can go on facebook. Facebook can really tell you a lot about a person without even meeting them. A lot of people don't list their real names on facebook to protect themselves. I think students should just be careful about what they say or do on facebook, because not only can it prevent you from getting into colleges, it can prevent job opportunities as well.
I beleive that colleges do have the right to look at facebook or myspace pages of students who are applying to their college. And even though its impossible for it not to affect their oppinion of you i dont beleive it should. Even if you dont beleive they have the right to there is no way to enforce that. If you decide to put pictures of you up on the internet then your putting it out there for anyone and everyone to see. The simple solution to this problem is to not put things on your facebook that you dont want people to see.
-Brian Slattery
I think that college admissions have a right to take information posted on websites into consideration. I feel that If a teen is willing to post things on the internet that it is fair game for the colleges to look at. If you think about it, the reason that the pictures and status updates are on the website is so that others can see it. So, what makes the colleges any different? If a teen post something that they shouldnt be doing, such as drinking or doing drugs, then they are in the wrong. It is not the college admissions fault that they have made this information available to them. I think that the responsibility lies on the teen, to either be careful what they post or accept the consequences of their actions.
I deffinetly think colleges have the right to look at your facebook, myspace, or twitter. If you feel comfortable enough to post inappropriate things on either of those then you should be comfortable with colleges looking at it to.If you get in trouble you should be able to deal with the consequences. No one is forcing you to put bad pictures or posts up so if you really dont want anyone to see or judge you based on that then dont put it up. I have seen this happen many times at work where the manager sees something bad on one of the employees facebook pages and then gets in trouble and are forced to take it off. I think the easier and safer bet is just to not put anything up you wouldnt be comfortaable with a boss or manager looking at.
-Christine Whalen
I feel that this is a very opinionated topic. It depends who you are and what pictures you have up on your personal page. Obviously if you have pictures of you drinking or doing drugs you're going to disagree with colleges looking at profiles. If you're going to put something up that you wouldn't want colleges to see, why would you want anyone else to see it? I think colleges should be able to look at your facebook/myspace profiles. It's a way to get to know about you on a more personal level. Depending on how you live your life, it can either help or destroy your chances of getting into that college. Also if you think colleges can look at your pages, why wouldn't cops and other agencies be able to look at your page. Even if an employer looks you up on facebook, that could be the difference between you getting a job. People being able to look at your page is why you have a myspace/facebook. So, if you don't want people to see your personal life, make it more private or don't have one at all.
If you put something out there in cyberspace, unfortunately it is out there for the entire world to see. Despite privacy settings and such, there are ways for literally anyone to see what you put out there on the internet. Because of that, although I don't like the thought of it, I do believe colleges have the right to look at people's social-networking pages, just like anyone else has the right to see it. If there's something you wouldn't want the entire world to have access to, it is your responsibility to not put it on the internet. Personally, I don't see any point in putting pictures of yourself drinking or doing anything of that nature up on the internet. There's no point to it. It's one thing to have a good time, but i feel that posting it and flaunting it for everyone to see is kind of classless and could absolutely see why colleges want to root those sorts of people out of their admissions pool.
I believe that collages have every right to look at the networking sites of their applicants. If applicants were against anyone looking at something on their facebook or myspace page, they should not include private information.
Colleges that look at their applicants' social networking sites actually do have the right idea. They are able to understand the applicant as an individual. They aren't going to be able to get to know the person through only an essay. By looking at their facebook pages, colleges will be able to tell who acts responsible and would be right for their them, and who would not be. Colleges would easily tell who is and is not right for their college through their facebook page. If you were a college looking through social networking sites, who would you choose? the smart, intellectual type who uses a wide range of vocabulary and has several interests they are passionate about, or the applicant whose profile picture shows them with a red plastic cup in one hand, and a joint in the other? I believe that people should be a lot more careful on what they put on their websites. You'll never be too sure of who sees it, and how it can affect their decision about you.
-Danielle Johnson
We live in a cybernetic world. Most contact can and is done electronically and human interactions are put at risk with the development of sites like Facebook or Myspace. This can lead to various phycological problems similar to some versions of social awkwardness. But all of that is aside from the point, I personaly dont have a Myspace, facebook, or Twitter. I believe that these sites are harmfull to the individual psyche if they are overused. But even more then that, I beleive that many people are missjudged by what they write on these sites or what pictures they post. If people can missjudge you, then why can't colleges? These sites by deffinition are made for people to judge who you are and if you dont want to be judged then you shouldn't have an account on them. I think that colleges have a 100% right to look at your Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace and if they're final decition is based on your social prowess that is portrayed on these sites, then so be it.
-Bryan Finazzo
While I don't support teenagers posting pictures and videos of themselves partying on the weekends, I don't think that colleges have the right to consider an applicant’s Facebook page when deciding if they will be accepted to a certain school. Admissions officers may deny students for the wrong reasons. When applying to college, you are a faceless person. Everything that you send to a college is a reflection of who you are and your abilities as a student. Admissions officers picking through Facebook pages will only lead to unfair decisions as to who they pick for their school. Will they pick an attractive person as apposed to a not so attractive person? Will they accept someone whose Facebook page displays wealth through their photos to make their school look better? While admissions officers may not admit or realize it, they will pass judgments based on what a person looks like. The colleges get plenty of information from applicants through the regular application; they don't need to be searching Facebook pages for more.
I believe colleges do have the right to look at your Facebook, Twitter, or any other site you may have a page on. For example, on Facebook anyone can see your page, so it doesn't make a difference if it is a college looking or not. If you don't want a college to look at your page, you just have to erase it because they have the right to. I am very careful about what I put on the computer because certain people will see things that you don't want them too, if you did put risky things like status' or pictures up.
Today, society essentially revolves around technology. Everywhere you go; there is a machine built or a website created to make life easier. Facebook is social network that is used to connect with friends and communicate freely with the rest of the world. If something goes on the internet, it is open for the rest of the world to view, no matter where you put it. This is why I believe that colleges should be able to see all of these websites like "Facebook" and others. What other way to figure out who you’re letting onto your campus other than an application showing what they did in their life and a couple of lies given from their own mouth?
There is no reason to show illegal activity on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter, and the truth is that people still post these things, and it really is the perfect place for colleges to learn who they’re letting into their classes.
I have mixed feelings about this subject. I believe on one side, colleges do have the right to check your social networks, because they should know the type of person that is attending their academic environment. However, on the other hand I also think personal life should be separated from school. Facing the facts, College students are going to go to parties. Posting pictures or risqué status' while there is just stupid, for you never know who will see. As for high-schoolers, there's a simple solution to being worried about if colleges will see bad things on there facebook pages, don't post it. I don't understand posting pictures of drinking or other profanities because people will see, including families, employers, and in this case, college deans. Nevertheless, rejecting students because of bad behavior on a social network is taking it too way far.
Colleges having the access to look at your Myspace or Facebook gives the college a sense of what your personality really is. They see who you really are, what sports your doing, the places that you work. Colleges like to see who they might be accepting to their school, they don't want to be choosing someone with a red cup in their hand, in every picture that they take. Facebook is for everyone to see, so if you don't think that colleges are going to it, then do not put it up! I can't even tell you how many people had there status' as "So drunk right now, dont even know how i got home!" It is just so rediculous, if you think that it is an invasion of privacy, well obviously it's not that private if your posting it to the world.
I think that the idea of allowing colleges to have access to your social networking sites is a really good idea. I understand that some people may say it is an invasion of your privacy but i feel that there shouldnt be anything on these sites that you arent willing to share with the world. People dont need to tell you that they are drunk or cant remember what they did the night before. If you have nothing to hide then it could really only benifit you. The colleges could get a feel of what type of person you are and just an overall sense of your personality. It would help give them more of an idea that you are more than just numbers on a piece of paper, your a person with your own individual, unique personality.
I believe that colleges do have the right to look at perspective students' activity on social networking websites. If students are publicly displaying actions that are diminishing to their character, they are responsible for the repercussions. If a student does participate in activities that indicate moral depravity, he should be careful. Since there are no rules and facebook/myspace/twitter are public networking sites, colleges and universities do have the right to examine them. I am careful about what is posted on my facebook, because if I ever got denied for something that was posted I would be a wreck.
I feel that colleges do have the right to look at peoples social network sites. They can see the type of person they are about to accept. This leads me to say that people should be careful with what they put on their profiles and web pages. Anybody can see this and it can not only effect your college/education but your future jobs/careers. When a college admission officer see this person with a whole lot of pictures with people partying and acting out of the normal they probably arent going to acceot them. They are goning to think that they are not focused and are not dedicated to their studies.
I believe that colleges should be allowed to look at the social networking sites of applicants. I think if an individual makes the choice to post certain material on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter colleges and universities have the right to examine it. When someone posts something online they are releasing information to the world, and these people have to understand that almost anyone can look at their information. I think that if someone doesn’t want their information to be seen by colleges they should not post such information on Facebook. I think students need to rethink the things they put on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter because posting inappropriate material may be harmful when applying to college and also when looking for a job. I am careful about what I post on these social networking websites because I understand how posting the wrong things on these sites can hurt me in the long run.
I believe that colleges have the full right to search applicants social networking sites. I think it is completely wrong for people to put up in appropriate pictures, especially if they don't want other people looking at them, if you are going to behave that way and show it off online, you are going to have to deal with the consequences. I think that when a college looks at someones social networking site it could tell them a great deal about that person. Although I know it is never good to judge a book by its cover, sometimes it's okay to just get a little idea of who someone is by looking from the outside in. I am very hesitant to put anything on Facebook because I am always scared that someone is going to take something the wrong way and that things can get out of hand. To prevent this, I make sure that my profile shows others who I really am and only allow people I know see my profile and keep everything on private for people I don't know.
I think that colleges do have the right to look at your face book page but shouldn’t judge for a petty conversation or immature comment. I think that admissions should be more focused on offensive posts such as extreme profanity or the generic rejection: photo of student drunk at an underage party. No right is being violated by this. We all know that colleges are a business and don’t want students who will give them a bad name. Also they check for students who could pose a threat to the safety of the staff and students of the campus. I believe some colleges have different codes and differ in their lenience on inappropriate comments. Just play conservative and don’t go crazy with your status like the ones that say “f*#k the world” I wonder what admissions would think about you when they see that. Getting back on topic, as young adults in the world we are naive and just think that only our friends look at what we have on our facebook. We should think smart and watch what we say in order to preserve our future. Although the deciding factor of taking an applicant should not be in the facebook character.
Colleges do have the right to look at possible applicants' facebook pages. In some cases you can tell what kind of a person someone is by their pictures; whether they're shy or outgoing or whatever it may be. When people put stuff on facebook, they are pretty much asking everybody to look at it and notice it. If a college wants to learn more about possible applicants, then looking at their facebook pages is a very easy way to do that.
-Kenny Anello
I believe that colleges have the right to look at the social-networking sites of applicants. They have every right to look at social- networking sites, first of all, because when you have some thing like a Facebook, Myspace, or Twitter, you are putting yourself out there for others to see. And even if you're not "trying" to put yourself out there, you are in some way, shape or form by having sites like that. Second of all, when you're applying to colleges, all you are, most of the time, is a bunch of classes and extra- curricular activities put together with a score called a GPA. Those who 'accept' and 'deny' applicants do not know the student as a person, and somewhat learn through the College Essay, but it's still difficult to examine the applicant to it's fullest extent. Things like Facebook, are a perfect way to see the person and who they may be. With that said, college is just becoming more and more competitive, and college's want the best people to go to their college, which can also be determined by going through their social-network. I wouldn't necessarily consider myself "careful" with what I put on Facebook and such because I really have nothing to hide from anyone, except an angry status or two, but I DO have a Facebook and Myspace and I understand that whatever I may put on there is risking my chances of things, like college. I may not be 100% comfortable with colleges stalking my Facebook page, but I will come to terms with it, being that I have nothing to hide, and I can only hope that something good may come out of it.
-RAY WEBER :)
I personally do not believe that colleges should look at students' social networking sites, although they certainly have the right to do so if they choose. Students do not choose to present their social networking sites as representatives of themselves- finding a student's facebook account is like finding random people who may know a job applicant and asking them about the applicant, even though they weren't listed as references. Still, anything that is put on unprotected social networking sites is fair game for anyone to look at, and if colleges choose to base their judgments on a person's character on a brief glimpse into their social lives, they cannot be stopped. Therefore, all students should be careful of what is on their social networking profiles.
I think that this topic is certainly debatable and open to interpretation. I have solid points arguing in each side's favor, but overall I would have to say that college administrators SHOULD have the right to view the social-networking sites of applicants. I think that colleges want to catch and easy glimpse of the students that they may potentially be accepting. As much as people may deny it, their Facebook pages often tell a lot about who they are. If people are so worried about colleges judging what is on their profiles, they should be careful about what they post, and about what their friends post. The internet is a risky place, and people who are not careful often find themselves in a whole lot of trouble. However, I can also understand how a teenager may think that t heir social-networking profile is their own personal business and should stay completely separate from schools/colleges. I understand that, however I feel differently.
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