If you don’t understand what Facebook is, I’ll pray for you. If you still have not created an account, I’m proud of you. If you are like me, you now understand that Facebook isn’t what it used to be.
While I am no addict, I do use my Facebook iPhone app religiously and have done my fair share of stalking — deal with it.
I joined Facebook during my freshman year in college. Since then, social networking has taken on a much more prominent role in society.
Today, Facebook is not just for bored college students. It is for anyone of any age to use it for whatever they desire.
That is why I was so surprised — and a little nervous — in the past year to log onto Facebook at two separate occasions and see friend requests from my father, and, more recently, my grandfather in St. Louis, whom I only see twice a year.
I am the son that, let’s say, has taken an alternative path from the family. While I do not consider myself the prodigal son, I do know my only other sibling married an awesome minister, has three beautiful children and moved away to carry on the will of God.
On my most recent birthday last month, I got drunk and shot guns — not in that order, mind you.
It’s easy to behave at Sunday dinner or at a family get-together on Thanksgiving, but when someone becomes Facebook friends with you today, there is no putting on a front. Nevertheless, family is family, and I gladly accepted their friend requests.
It still made me wonder why I was so hesitant to accept these family members I love so much. How do I really present myself on the internet, and what I want people to think of me when they look at my Facebook?
Another Facebook reality check was just a few weeks ago.
As my final semester of college started about a month ago, I applied for a public relations internship at local healthcare provider.
Upon arriving at my interview, I was entertained to find out that my potential future boss said she looked at my Facebook page to see who I was and what mutual friends we have.
I found this to be a fun icebreaker to the conversation before I started to contemplate what she had really looked at. What was my privacy set at? Could the thoughts I recently posted be used against me? Could she have seen the photos that my drunken friend tagged me in last weekend?
I was finally relieved the next day after hearing that I was offered the internship — a crisis averted.
While your Facebook page can be used as a great medium of getting to know new friends and catching up with old ones, the reality of it is that it is the easiest way for someone to really get a grasp of who you are today.
I realized I wasn’t so nervous about what people will think of my favorite movies, my political status or my lame profile picture.
Only you have control on what you put on your own page, but past experiences show it is my Facebook “friends” that post the worst things on my page.
With that said, here are a few things that I think some of you will agree with.
First, I hate being tagged in photos on Facebook. A word to all my friends — just don’t do it.
For that matter, don’t take my picture.
If you have to, then I will just tag myself if I want to. It will save us both a lot of time.
I also don’t need a post saying how awesome or crazy the other night was. I don’t need it to say how sorry you are that you were out of control.
If you have something personal to say, you can message me.
Keep it between you and me, or I will probably end up deleting it.
While we are on the topic, let me say I have no desire to be a part of your Mafia War. I don’t care that you just bought a cow in Farmville and no one cares that you just checked in to IHOP on Yelp.
I know part of me should just be stronger and take responsibility for myself.
This is my life, and, if I am not proud of it, then I shouldn’t do it.
I just don’t need all aspects of my life available to the public.
For all of us college students, as we finish our education and head out into a more professional environment, your résumé will prove what you have done and what you are capable of.
Even so, it is the Internet that will prove who you are as a person.
It is the easiest and most accessible personal résumé.
Since the Internet is here to stay, what you put on it may never go away.
If you are proud of it, own it.
Everything else has got to go.
By KEVIN SCHMIDT
Newscast Editor
kcschmid@umail.iu.edu