Facebook's Central Role in Suicide and Unemployment

As most of us know, Facebook was originally made for college students for social networking.  Along the Facebook's journey to the top of the social media world, there was a lapse in judgement and Facebook became open to the public, which included younger students.  In theory, Facebook is a good idea.  It allows people to catch up with their friends and stay connected. But not everyone uses Facebook the way it was meant to be used.  Most of this is seen with younger students just entering adolescence.  Most nights when I turn on the news I see a segment on cyber bullying where Facebook was the vehicle of choice, and suicide was the outcome.  Aside from the heart-wrenching number of teen suicides due to cyber bullying through Facebook, there is also another significant problem.  What college students do and post on Facebook is negatively effecting them after graduation, playing a key factor in unemployment.

For younger kids, Facebook is completely inappropriate.  The problem is quite simple: students below college-age aren't mature enough to have Facebook.  The level of maturity of college students is often questionable, but most of us are past the point of making petty digs at the odd-ball in class.  Middle and high school students have different priorities.  Rather than being focused on passing their classes and trying to sneak beer on campus, they focus on being liked and accepted.  Unfortunately, this desire manifests itself into bullying, with Facebook as the main tool.

Facebook presents an entirely different set of issues for college students.  Facebook isn't used to eliminate or embarrass people, it's used to brag.  It's used to show what party you were at last Saturday, or show off your new, attractive significant other.  The problem here is that everything ends up on Facebook  - whether you want it to or not.  College graduates have lost jobs because of what's on Facebook.  We are ideally in college to better ourselves and find a good job upon graduation, and Facebook can stop that from happening.  Whether you put those pictures of yourself when you were drunk and half dressed on Facebook personally, or you were tagged, they can still stop you from getting that dream job you've been working 4, 5 or even 6 years to achieve.

As far as the younger generations, we need to get Facebook out of the bullying equation.  No good can come form Facebook when you're fourteen years old.  There's no simple way to do this, other than advise your younger siblings, or the kids you babysit for that Facebook is a bad idea for them to have. Although I would like to, it's unrealistic for me to tell you not to use Facebook.   However, there are a few things you can do to keep your precious Facebook page, and not allow it to hurt you.  Untag those drunk photo's.  Don't just forget about them, because they will hit you like a killer hangover, making you regret so, so many things. Also, try to stay away from the camera when you aren't in situations you wouldn't want broadcasted to your several hundred "friends."  Facebook itself isn't bad, but if you're careless with it, or if younger students have access to it, Facebook will come back to kick you in the ass as you're applying for jobs and Facebook will be key factor in another teen suicide.