Facebook and MySpace are some of the many websites which populate the internet, and characterize themselves as sites which allow student social interaction with fellow students at colleges and universities. They are certainly not the only sites of this type, and undoubtedly others will follow. As part of the public domain, Facebook is accessible to anyone with a college or university email address, i.e. “edu”. The website allows students to create a profile which includes a variety of information such as name, address, social security number, phone number(s), daily schedule, plus photographs. While Facebook and similar sites provide the opportunity for positive social interaction, they also represent the potential for abuse. As an educational institution, the University does not intend to regulate access to the sites; however, we feel it is important to share some relevant cautions, concerns and responsibilities with respect to their use.

Safety Considerations
You should be aware of the fact that by publicly communicating your address, telephone numbers, or other personal identifiable information, you could risk your personal safety since there is no expectation of privacy associated with this site. Consequently, you can and should assume that any information you post will be accessed by a variety of readers ranging from student peers to potential sexual predators and identity thieves. To limit the potential risk of being a victim or target, you should carefully consider information to be posted and use appropriate privacy settings on the site for information contained in your profile.

Durability of Information and Prospective Employers
Information posted on the Internet can be linked to, copied, or replicated to other sites without your permission or knowledge, and these sites may employ “caching”. Caching (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cache?iT=) keeps copies of your postings at a point in time for future reference, so when you remove your postings from the Internet the information may still exist. Google employs caching. Months or years after you have removed postings from a web site they may still come up in a Google search. Consider your postings like a tattoo – simple to apply, but difficult and painful to remove.

Consequently, what might seem comical, funny, or even appropriate today can have ramifications which last well into the future and could jeopardize internship and employment opportunities down the road. Current and potential future employers can often access information contained on Facebook and other sites, and many are doing so to check what is posted online and to evaluate the character of the current or prospective employee. Carefully consider the information you post on Facebook or similar sites as providing an “image” being communicated to a current or prospective employer.

Violation of University Policy
As a student at RMU, you have certain responsibilities in terms of your conduct and demeanor which may be reviewed under existing University policy and the Student Judicial Code. While student athletes and student leaders are more prominent in their visibility within the school and externally, all students are expected to comport themselves in a manner which brings credit to Robert Morris University and the University community. It is expected that your conduct will reflect positively on you, your team/organization, and the University. While Facebook and similar sites are hosted external to Robert Morris University, violations of the University Policy, team rules, and/or the Student Judicial Code, are subject to investigation and appropriate sanction by the University.

Potential Legal Liability
You should carefully consider your comments when communicating on these websites since you may be held legally responsible for what you write and/or post about fellow students, faculty and others. For example, your actions could make you personally liable if: you defame someone by communicating information known to be false which harms his/her reputation; or you violate someone’s privacy by posting photographs of him/her in compromising situation or alter photographs to imply illicit and/or immoral activity.

RMU Disclaimer
While the Facebook website or other similar sites may have the name “Robert Morris University” affixed to it, the University does not produce, maintain, support or endorse this or any other similar site.

Conclusion
We recognize that many students at RMU and elsewhere participate in online directories to connect and interact with fellow students. However, participants should be alert to the potential risks associated with such sites. Ultimately, you remain the first line of defense regarding whether to join a website of this type and the level and amount of personal information you elect to populate the site with. Today’s choices can impact future matters insofar as potential employment opportunities and your personal welfare. We hope that by making you aware of the many issues surrounding Facebook, MySpace and similar sites, you will carefully consider and choose wisely when it comes to your participation.