The Rhetorical Analysis of “Youthful Indiscretions: Should Colleges Protect Social Network Users from Themselves and Others?”

This article, written by Alan Norton, addresses several reasons why people should not use social networking sites. In Norton’s first points, he mentions several legal issues and privacy concerns that come along with social media. Norton also describes the emotional effect that these sites can have; with their usage comes along abuse and peer pressure. Furthermore, Norton’s last point is the plain fact that social networking is just not for everyone. Giving real-world examples and addressing the negative aspects of its usage support the author’s argument by not using social media. Norton’s article is aimed at the percentage of society that is currently active on social

Higher education law attorney Dana L. Fleming voices her controversial opinion in favor of institutionalized involvement in social network protection in her article “Youthful Indiscretions: Should Colleges Protect Social Network Users from Themselves and Others?” (Fleming). Posted in the New England Journal of Higher Education, winter of 2008 issue, Fleming poses the question of responsibility in monitoring students’ online social networking activities. With a growing population of students registering on social networks like Facebook and MySpace, she introduces the concern of safety by saying, “like lawmakers, college administrators have not yet determined how to handle the unique issues posed by the public display of their students’

Putting your personal information on a social network site can put your safety or future at risk. You never know who is watching. “The words and images you post on the Internet may be available for years, and your profile may be viewed by future employers and school admissions officials, as well as identity thieves, spammers, and stalkers.” (whoswatchingcharlottesville.org), anything can happen and most times you can’t take it back.

Her one sided article is a barrage on the emotions with the clever use of interesting statistics and past mistakes on social media, to inspire a change in the protection of young people on social media. She is not alone on feeling social media can be dangerous, Dr. Bruce Johnson agrees saying "…students and educators need to be aware of hidden dangers of social media” (Johnson Par 1).

Another effect that social networking has on teenagers that can be labeled as “unhealthy” is the creation of a false sense of security online. For example, 20% of colleges and universities check social networking sites for possible candidates("aap.org"). This shows that what teenagers post online can go against them. Perhaps a “wild night out” can lead an acceptance letter to a refusal letter. But these refusal letters usually aren’t specific in reasons why they declined the candidate. To teenagers, they don’t realize what they’re posting online is actually going against them. Another intriguing fact is that students have been eschewed from colleges as well as jobs because of slander or defamation of another user. (Fodeman, and Monroe) If students don’t realize what harm they are causing because of quick statuses referring to their social life, they will believe that the fact their status is “online” they are

Starting off, the main argument of Alan Finder’s text, “Social Networking”, is stating his position on whether he believes Social Networking is the right or wrong thing to do. In other words, the writer claims that Facebook, MySpace, and other entities contain immature and unprofessional items that should not be on there. The writer supports his claim by pointing out that students post vile photographs and they talk about drinking, drugs, or sexual exploits. He maintains that if colleges or companies do look at your social media accounts, then it shows them how that person is and what kind of things he or she does in their daily life. In my point of view, I believe that Social Networking is a bad idea and no one should have the right to look at something that contains your privacy.

There once was a time when high school students had the promise of getting into a college of their choosing if they made good grades, had good SAT scores, and participated in extracurricular activities. That time may now be coming to an end thanks to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. According to a recent study through Kaplan Test Prep, approximately 31 percent of the 381 college admission counselors that participated in the study admit to looking up their applicants Facebook pages (Singer BU3). More astounding than that statistic is that 30 percent of those who look at applicants Facebook pages admit that they had discovered information that negatively affected the student’s chances at being accepted (Singer BU3).

Simon Dumenco takes a different turn on how people complain about being so sick of Facebook but yet, they still can’t seem to stop using it. Giving his reasons on how Facebook have ways on presiding you to continue to use the site in his essay “If We’re all So Sick of You, Facebook, Why Can’t We Quit you?” These two essays compared together gives it’s reading an insight on how technology and social media takes place in a person's life and develop into a hobby, and then becomes addictive. Although “Students Addicted to Social Media” by the ICMPA who focus on digital technology and how students are addictive to social media, while “If We’re All So Sick of You, Facebook, Why Can’t We Quit You?” by Simon Dumenco who discuss how Facebook manipulate people to use its site, they both explain how technology and social sites are addictive and an everyday morality of a person’s life. These readings are both worthy of attention, because although people stay connected to the world by using social media to communicate the less they interact and communicate face to face

Privacy is something that American’s take very seriously. We have various laws to keep our personal lives personal, but is it fair to say that college kids have privacy? There are many cases that occur on and off campus that delve deep into the false pretences of privacy, along with the loopholes of FERPA and even HIPPA laws.

In the article ''Facebook photos sting Minn. High school students'' it states that the social networks are not private but is of the public to view. That students post their personal information at the will. Also the article ''Facing Consequences at Eden Prairies

The author illustrates in her blog the power and impact Facebook had on the population by convincing to be “a place of human connectivity,” but

(procon.org. 1). Anyway, while we pond on that question, let us discuss why social media discourages students from studying or why students who uses social networking sites don’t do well in school. Besides the fact that students who use social networking sites use them to connect with their family, and long distance friends, proponents of social networking sites may argue that it helps students to do better at school, and that 59% of students with access to the internet report that they use social networking sites to discuss educational topics and 50% use these sites talk about school assignments, according to procon.org (2). However, since these sites are not one hundred percent accurate and reliable, how are we sure that the students who uses social networking sites are actually doing well in their academics and not failing when it is obvious non users of social networking sites perform better. As a matter of fact, what chance does a student who uses social networking sites stand to a student who spends their time outside classroom doing their homework’s, reading their class notes, textbooks, and novels, and spending their time on other things other than on social networking sites? In as much as many of us don’t see the harm social networking sites are having on our students, it is an undeniable fact

Perhaps most importantly, members create a listing of friends which allows them to communicate online and gives mutual access to more private content (such as photos).

There has been debate that questions if looking at the students’ social media was an invasion of privacy. This circumstance was not an invasion of privacy; however, colleges and universities should follow guidelines for similar situations to ensure they are not invading anyone’s privacy. A college or university should not actively seek out a student’s social media unless they are made aware of an offensive behavior, because this threatens the learning environment on campus. They should only be able to see public posts, rather than private posts or messages. Because a student knows that his or her posts are public, he or she accepts the fact that anyone can view the post. Colleges and universities can also view any social media that represents them or is made specifically for their students. Colleges and universities want to keep a good image, and therefore they can seek out social media that represents or could

At any given time of day, anyone can access an abundant amount of information at the click of a button. Men, women, kids, teenagers, adults and even the elderly are learning how to use the internet to their advantage. Among all the benefits the internet has provided to us, online communication has proven to be the most beneficial. Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace have made it easy for everyone to stay in contact with each other. Regardless of how far apart a family member or friend is, everyone is just one click away. If someone is not having a good day, they can share their feelings with everyone in a matter of seconds. These social networking sites have become quite popular among adolescents. They allow teens to stay more connected with their friends outside of school. Now teens have become more obsessed with their friends Facebook or Twitter status than engaging in outdoor activities like football or