Overview:

This page provides three sets of tips on effective social networking use as recommended by students in the FYF 101J - Alternative Energy: Separating Myth From Reality course at Wilkes University in September 2009.

The method by which the lists were generated can be found by clicking this link.

• Promote yourself in a good way.  Social networking is public and anything that you post or show can be seen by anyone.
• Use honest in your profile.  Using false ages will attract different age groups and can result in stalking or other criminal activity.
  
• Protect your personal information.  Information should be posted through discretion, and addresses, phone numbers, etc. should not be posted.
• Set privacy settings.  Personal information can be protected through privacy settings, allowing only known friends to view this.
• Approve comments before they are posted. Approving comments gets rid of comments that the user does not want anyone to see.
  
• Don't upload inappropriate pictures. Inappropriate pictures can tarnish a user's image and can stick with them many years down the road.
• Don't create posts that are harassing, theatening, or violent.  Posting these types of things can result in action from authorities such as the police.
• Don't accept people who you do not know.  You should only accept the people you know because someone you do not know may be adding you for the wrong reasons. 
• Don't open messages from unknown people.  These can contain spyware or viruses.
• Don't access sites from public computers. Leaving information up by mistake can be viewed by others where they can obtain personal information.
  

• Don't post deeply personal information.
• Do set your privacy settings to friends only.
  
• Don't post your schedule, phone number, or home address on Facebook / MySpace.
  
• Think before you post.
  
• Only accept people you actually know.  If you need to add people you don't know, treat them as strangers, because they are!
  
• Don't post photos showing you engaged in illegal activities.
  
• Don't post anything racially insensitive.
  
• Do report abuse.  If you are being harassed, make it known.
  
• Post for the long term.  Everything from the Internet stays there.
• Do expect future employers to check your social networking accounts.
  

• Be honest about your personal information.  Try to be yourself and don't lie to improve your status.
  
• Be wary of meeting new people online.  Some people really aren't who / what they say they are.
• Watch what you quote and say.  Anybody can copy and paste what you said.
• Do adjust privacy levels.  Have only trusted friends view your data.
• Keep it simple with new contacts online.  Don't pour your whole soul and self onto the person the first day.
• Be wary of your trail on the Internet.  You leave a footprint where you go!
  
• Keep your profile picture simple.  Convey happiness.
• Make careful contacts to business buddies. What is given to them can impact your job.
• Watch wireless connections.  Others can look at what you are doing.
  
• Do not place important information on profiles.  Address, records, etc.

This page posted and maintained by Kenneth M. Klemow, Ph.D., Biology Department, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766. (570) 408-4758, kklemow@wilkes.edu.