With the proliferation of Social Networks, users tend to forget that what they post is not that confidential, even when they think it is.
Digital Natives (coined by Marc Prensky) are quite adept and comfortable when using current technologies but for some, there is a "laissez faire" attitude in the way they use the new technology. Unlike Vegas, chances are that what they post on the Web will stay on the Web (Archive.org is building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form with over 85 million pages). Users should be aware that perspective employers are now using the social networking sites to screen candidates. (When screening job candidates, one in four employers uses the Internet to acquire personal information, and one in 10 uses or has used social networking sites (like facebook.com or MySpace.com) for the same purpose... Employers use Facebook in hiring process).
As Digital Immigrants, we must ask ourselves, are we teaching them (digital natives) how to navigate safely the Web?
For those still doubting the power of Web 2.0 read the article, that appeared in the November issue of the "THE Journal". "...attorney John Gresham is quoted as saying, "Facebook pages are only meant to be viewed by people permitted to see them." He questioned how the private postings became public ...
