MySpace or Your Space
MySpace and Facebook on a continual rise and the backlash it's having on college students
by Lyndsey Ryan
Issue date: 2/19/07 Section: Features
The recent explosion of popular social Web sites, such as MySpace and Facebook is causing controversy in colleges and universities across the country. These websites allow people easy access to stay in touch with friends, exchange photos, and so much more. The luxury of instantaneous access to information, both personal and non-personal, appeals to students across the country. The question is; are members of these social websites aware of the consequences that could follow them after posting too much personal information?
Colleges and universities across the state of Virginia are incorporating "how to be careful online" into their orientation programs, since, now, 9.5 million members are on MySpace and a large number of them are college age students. These discussions cover the dangers and consequences of being members of these websites. Students posting photos and other information revealing behavior, such as underage drinking, women soccer players in their underwear, naked baseball players, and even sexual encounters, can be dangerous and colleges and universities are taking action.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, student Mike Turk faced a possibility of expulsion from Southern Illinois University after he dedicated a Facebook page to claims of an intimate relationship with a woman. When other male students saw the page, they too claimed to have intimate relations with her. When the woman saw the page, she went to authorities and the page was permanently taken down.
Another example from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch occurred at Louisiana State University. The school kicked two male swimmers off the team after negative comments about their coach was posted on Facebook. Instances such as these are getting students to voice their opinions and stand up for their rights to free speech. "I think Facebook and MySpace are like blogs. People should be able to voice their opinion and make use of the First Amendment," said Jerisa Pierce, a junior at Piedmont College.
Colleges and universities across the state of Virginia are incorporating "how to be careful online" into their orientation programs, since, now, 9.5 million members are on MySpace and a large number of them are college age students. These discussions cover the dangers and consequences of being members of these websites. Students posting photos and other information revealing behavior, such as underage drinking, women soccer players in their underwear, naked baseball players, and even sexual encounters, can be dangerous and colleges and universities are taking action.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, student Mike Turk faced a possibility of expulsion from Southern Illinois University after he dedicated a Facebook page to claims of an intimate relationship with a woman. When other male students saw the page, they too claimed to have intimate relations with her. When the woman saw the page, she went to authorities and the page was permanently taken down.
Another example from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch occurred at Louisiana State University. The school kicked two male swimmers off the team after negative comments about their coach was posted on Facebook. Instances such as these are getting students to voice their opinions and stand up for their rights to free speech. "I think Facebook and MySpace are like blogs. People should be able to voice their opinion and make use of the First Amendment," said Jerisa Pierce, a junior at Piedmont College.
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