Facebook:Useful tool or threat?

Jacquielynn Floyd’s intentions are clear in her article, On Facebook, Biggest Threat to Your Private Date May Be You. Throughout the piece, it is clear that her purpose is to convince her audience that we need as a whole to realize that it is not safe to put all of our personal information online through social media outlets such as Facebook. Floyd is of the belief that we need to stop sharing on the Internet and start sharing in real life. While her article discusses the main issue of Facebook, it also includes worries about privacy online in general.  While I can understand the concern for privacy issues online, I don’t believe that one should shy away from social media all together. While sites like Facebook can be used inappropriately and incorrectly, they can also be used as excellent tools to connect with those that do matter to you. Whether it’s for business, connecting with your family and friends, or even reconnecting with someone you haven’t seen in years, Facebook and similar sites can be used for good. Theses sites can also act as good outlets for your creativity. It is all just really about how you go about using these tools. It is in this sense that I do agree with Floyd. To quote Floyd, “You are your own front line of defense in maintaining your privacy”. This really rings true, especially today. While these social networking tools can be used to your advantage, if used incorrectly they can be your downfall. It is for this reason that we should continue to use these sites, but remember to be careful of what we allow through the, “boundary between what goes on inside and outside their skulls”.