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Saving Face

Tips for a safe Facebook experience

Most college students know better than to post private information on Facebook. But some of the safety issues the site presents aren’t so obvious. For example, if you write your phone number on a friend’s wall, you could be handing it out to everyone in his or her network. It’s like giving your roommate a sip of your drink, only to learn that he just shared a water bottle with half the basketball team.

These tips can help Facebook users—both young people and adults—stay safe.

1. Avoid posting your address or phone number anywhere on the site.

2. Remember to log off of Facebook in public computer labs so the next user can’t access your account.

3. Use Facebook’s privacy options to restrict users who aren’t your friends from accessing your profile. Keep in mind, this still doesn’t ensure that no one else will see your information. All it takes is someone standing over your friend’s shoulder while he or she reads your wall.

4. Be careful about who you accept as a “Facebook friend.” It might seem harmless to accept a random person because they look cute or have a funny name, but do you really want this person to see everything you post?

5. When posting status information (what you are currently doing), avoid being too specific or you could invite stalkers. Also, don’t post your (class) schedule. It advertises when you will and will not be home.

Nicole Adamson

Hooked on Facebook

Campus ministry takes Web presence to new level

When Jesus sent his disciples out to “fish for people,” he was setting them up for some tough networking: traveling from town to town, covering hundreds of miles to proclaim the gospel. Fast-forward nearly 2,000 years and you might wonder, “What would Jesus do in the age of Facebook?”

With more than 64 million users worldwide, this social networking Web site has created a new dimension of communication. And while Facebook began as a way for college students to connect with friends, it has also become a valuable tool in campus ministry.

Brian Rower, a senior at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, says many of his friendships within Lutheran Campus Ministry wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Facebook, a social networking Web site.

If you’re unacquainted with Facebook, think of it as a personal directory, photo album, bulletin board and meeting room all rolled into one massive Web site. Users create a profile, which can include anything from their favorite music to religious views, and build a network of their friends, who can view each other’s profile pages and post comments and photos.

The site also lets groups create a page on which members can hold discussions and post event details and photos.

For many Lutheran campus ministries, Facebook is a way to connect with students. But just how strong of a connection can you make through a Web site?

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