Common Sense

In a quick read of one of my new favorites, Fred Stutzman lays out some common sense advice for students’ use of the FaceBook. Just a good read — and if you are teaching in a place where students are using the FB, send them this link.

One thought on “Common Sense

  1. Learning how to “live” online are critical life skills for students, and they need to leave college with these skills.

    Wow — I’ve been out of college too long.

    But seriously, this is a great article and worth a read. The ending was the most intriguing for me with its discussion of “privacy”: The Facebook is important for campuses, so I really hope they hold up their end of the bargain and keep it a somewhat private place for students. The privacy is what they love, and privacy is important for students constantly trying out new identities.

    Two thoughts:

    * The tension that needs to be resolved here with the Facebook (i.e. networking/connectedness vs. privacy) is a microcosm of a lot of what is going on in society at large right now (think Patriot Act). I absolutely agree that this is an issue that needs to be considered and addressed rationally, as Stutzman suggests. Fundamentally, “The problem is that once free, or disembodied from its originator, information is virtually impossible to recapture. In short, although sharing information is the path to collective benefit, sharing information also makes one vulnerable.” (source)
    * Isn’t the “privacy” of the Facebook part of what keeps it cool/edgy/relevant for users? If “the man” co-opts the Facebook as a recruiting tool, learning space, marketing database, etc. won’t users gravitate away from it and on to the next big thing?

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