Western Courier

Issue date: 2/7/07 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Wayon Collins

You just had a great interview for your dream job - you used proper eye contact, a firm handshake and impeccable wit and had a great connection with the interviewer. How would you feel if your would-be employer told you your application was turned down because of questionable pictures on the Internet?

Don't believe such a thing could ever happen to you? The truth may surprise you.

Contrary to what many people seem to believe, not only are such incriminating photos probably available, but chances are you were probably the one who put them there.

While MySpace and Facebook have taken America by storm, few of their users realize the double-edged sword they are wielding.

Yes, Web sites such as Facebook may be great sources of communication, but odds are your complete privacy will never be guaranteed. Despite all of the security and privacy options available, someone somewhere may figure out a way to navigate his or her browser to your page and photos, information and details about yourself that you may not want leaking out to prospective employers.

Is it fair? Of course not. Companies shouldn't have the right or audacity to spy on your private life. The truth, however, is that it does happen and the only way you'll ever be able to protect yourself is by thinking twice before you add something to your site that you'll regret later. Before you decide to post a picture on Facebook or MySpace you should ask yourself two big questions.

First, is this picture really acceptable for everyone to see? If so, then ask yourself if it presents you in a manner you'd want on display. That very question also goes for your "about me," "interests" and "groups" sections. In other words, don't add anything you don't want to become public knowledge.

Of course, there will always be those select few who try to fight this movement with their futile cries of, "It's my profile and I should be able to put what I want on it without being punished." Or the even more popular, "This will never happen to me." Not only can it, but unless you're very careful, it probably will.

What is important to remember is regardless of how you feel on the matter, the fact remains that you are putting information on a Web site, which means you run the risk of potentially showing whatever you put there to everyone in the world. Even if you take every precaution to make your profile as private as it can possibly be, there will always be a chance someone will find a way to view your information.

Do yourself a favor and take down the pictures with you passed out on a bathroom floor with a bottle of Southern Comfort by your side. Un-tag the photos of you flipping off the camera and re-write your section that says one of your interests is smoking joints during thunderstorms. You may think things like that are a riot, but potential bosses will not.

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