IN THE past several years, few trends have had a bigger impact on universities than the Facebook. As is often the case with college trends, by the time the media began to be interested, the social landscape of many universities had been transformed. The media have tended to cover this social revolution in two basic ways.The stories either talk about the website's potential to aid stalkers, or how students have had their lives or future careers harmed by embarrassing information found on the profile. Both have focused on clear potential dangers to students from Facebook. Those risks obviously still must be addressed, but students and administration need to think beyond them, and understand the full implications of the Facebook trend.
It isn't exactly breaking news that careless use of Facebook can be dangerous. Best known is how the website's spaces for personal information have the potential to aid stalkers. In particular, displaying one's phone number and residential address to all of the thousands of Facebook users at the University is an excellent way to be stalked. Last October, the University sent out an e-mail notice to students warning of those very problems. The notice specifically told students not to post their residential addresses and phone numbers, as well as the general advice to "Be selective with the content of personal information that is posted."
The University seems to do an adequate job of educating students about Facebook's risks. In an interview, Associate Dean of Students Aaron Laushway explained that students hear about these concerns during the ITC session of summer orientation. In a separate summer session, the University expresses the same information to parents.
More recently, another concern has arisen -- increased surveillance of Facebook by non-students. This has included police looking for potential alcohol busts, employers looking for clues about the character of an applicant, and, increasingly, university officials. For example, according to an August article in Sci-Tech Today, "Students at Pennsylvania State University were punished for rushing the field at a football game," actions known only because of the students' Facebook profiles. While this certainly would strike many, including this writer, as being rather totalitarian, it is a good reminder of the basic fact that one can never know who is viewing your online information. Thankfully, according to Laushway the University does not monitor Facebook in any way.
It may seem to be an audacious statement, but in truth the roots of almost all Facebook problems are self-obsession and immodesty. Admittedly, the problem is not as severe as with its tackier cousin MySpace. Nevertheless, it is a rampant one. Most examples of immodest Facebook actions are not as dangerousas posting phone numbers and residential addresses, but they still can be equally stupid. Posting lengthy self-taken photo shoots, hundred-line long "About Me" sections and constantly quoting yourself in the "Quotes" section are actions not only obnoxious to others, but unhealthy to the creator. They breed attitudes of narcissism and exhibitionism, self-obsessions which prevent healthy, well-balanced lives, as well as simply being a waste of time.
What is the solution to this problem? It's doubtful that we can speak of a solution per se, for the problem isn't Facebook, or even electronic communication in general. Obnoxious self-obsession is a symptom of the deeper problem of aimlessness. What might help is if the University spent more effort publicizing the many opportunities for community service that exist at the University, as well as the city of Charlottesville. Students already hear plenty about the prestigious and entertaining clubs at the University. Less well-known is information about groups that may not be as entertaining, but in the long run can be even more rewarding.
Getting involved in community service is the type of win-win proposal that the University would be wise to promote more. The community benefits from young workers, it's good publicity for the University, and students get to know the reward of actually helping others. While this probably won't be enough to cure all serious Facebook addicts, it could help many students to find more fulfilling lives.
Stephen Parsley's column appears Wednesdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at sparsley@cavalierdaily.com.
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