Nathan's Blog

I liked our discussion on social networking and of Andrew Keen's book "The Cult of the Amateur". I think there are a lot of benefits and negatives to social networking. I think it is a crucial skill to know how to network and to know how to do it right. It could result in a job, internship, or other opportunities. But with the advancements in the two major networking sites, it is hard to know what is appropriate and what is not. For instance Keen talks about rights of protection and to enforce more laws to regulate these sites. I agree that it does need to be regulated, but it also serves as a free forum and exchange of information among friends and family. I feel that so many things are PC that having to censor your social life is taking it to far. There does need to be regulation and privacy laws, that I agree with, but does it just start with that? Is it going to be used against the people that use it? is it ethical to impede on someone 1st amendment rights?

Recently I have been talking about this in many classes and programs I have been involved with. I also have a friend writing an article in the Star Tribune about social networks in context to employers. This is becoming more and more of an issue for many young people. Growing up with Facebook and Myspace is different from getting on in your mid 20's. We are used to sharing personal things with our closest friends and families. So is it right for an employer to request you as a friend? and if so how do you handle something like that? It makes for a very gray area that many students find themselves in more and more. There are professional networking sites like LinkedIn, but that is just it, its professional. Employers want to see who people are in and outside of the workplace. I for one think this is unfair and unethical. No one should be based on things that could skew a persons professional work behavior. If someone does what ever on the weekend and if it does not effect their work than who cares! But more employers are seeking facebook as a hiring tool. I say if you get a request, you have the right to refuse and should refer then to your LinkedIn page. It is an interesting situation and I can see why Keen would argue this issue. There are rights and when do those right need to be protected?