The Student News Site of Florida Gulf Coast University

Eagle Media

Eagle Media

Eagle Media

Facebook: User discretion advised

Social media is the fabric of our social lives.
Now, almost a decade since Facebook’s swallowing up of the once-popular MySpace, everyone has an account with some type of social-sharing website.
One would assume, as college students, we’d be less eager to give up valuable personal information to the public.
We’d like to think that.
Unfortunately, some people could use a friendly reminder of the things we as a global society of social-media users should avoid posting, tweeting or snapping.
n Let’s start with the basics: Don’t make personal information such as your home address, phone number and e-mail public. Why have a private life if everyone who desires to can take a gander at your page and see where you live, or other personal info?
n Don’t post about your dinner date for two at the Olive Garden near Gulf Coast Town Center on your public newsfeeds. That date you’ve been planning for you and your significant other may become a dinner date for three.
n Avoid sharing your passwords and stop leaving your social media page open 24/7 on your computer. I understand that someone else posted on your page, however, I would rather not read that you like smelling your own farts.
n Stop posting pictures of all your drunken weekend antics on the Internet. This is simply distasteful, unprofessional and sometimes illegal. No one wants to see that.
n Try not to post on your newsfeed the dates and times when you will be on your European vacation for a month. Remember “Home Alone?”
From a friend to a friend, here’s my tip to you: There’s no such thing as a delete button on the Internet.
Privacy settings exist for a reason. Not all information should be public.
Be cautious of what you post.

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