Method 8 Social Networking

I remeber watching The Net with Sandra Bullock. Sandra played a computer "geek" (apologzie for the lack of a better term). Her whole life was online and in the process of her job (which was to find weaknesses in other computer programs) her idenity was stolen. Everything from where she shopped, to how often she purchased items online was known.  The Net was made in the late 80's early 90's. Are we there with the Social Networking sites and Twitter?  Or is our information out on the web even without a Facebook, MySpace or Twitter account?

 In order for our district to receive funds for technology, we have to teach our students an internet safety course.  We stress the importance of not placing any personal information on their facebook page. But even if you don't place anything personal on Facebook, there are websites that will bring up personal information by just searching a name. So is anything private anymore, we would like to believe so but in reality I don't think so. I even mention my concerns to my son about a webpage he had created for a fundraising event.  Every personal item was mentioned. His name, university, what he was studying and the name of his faternity. When I voice by concerns, his response was "if someone wants to find me they can with or without the personal information." 

I have my own Facebook page and I am probably not the greatest at keeping it up.  I really don't care if one is having pot roast for dinner or not.  I can see the potential in having a professional page to help promote the library and I have become a "fan" of the Library of  Congress page and the Library development page.  By becoming a fan of the two pages I am now connected with librarians across the country and through out the world.  I would like to create a Facebook page for my library, however; my library is a pubic school and all social networking sites are blocked by the filter.  Perhaps in time this will change but until then I will have to promote my the library the "old fashion way" by talking to parents and students face to face.