What Your Facebook Page may Say to the University You are Applying To!
While the use of Facebook continues to increase rapidly among students in Senegal, the much needed advice on safe, successful use of social media and technology for students and parents may not be increasing at the same pace. According to Internet World Stats (http://www.internetworldstats.com/africa.htm) effective December 31, 2012 there were 675, 820 Facebook subscribers in Senegal. In a virtual world where connections are easily made and information shared freely worldwide, students often forget that their Facebook page holds a wealth of information visible to more than just friends and families!
University recruitment and admissions officers often invite students to join their campus Facebook page. In response, students can quickly ACCEPT this invitation but first they really should ask themselves if the information and images posted on their page are appropriate for this circumstance. When asking if they are appropriate, I would suggest students look closely at what they are talking about along with comments accepted on their post and most important the images.
If a student submits a personal statement (letter de motivation) to a university that speaks about their desire to study law, love of politics and international relations along with a commitment to women’s rights yet has a Facebook page with personal images like those below then people may see a contradiction.
As adults we need to do more to assure that students understand the power, both positive and negative, of their Facebook page and the online world of communication. Schools should increase their efforts to provide students and parents with the resource tools to safely navigate Facebook and other social media. In reality, the minimum age to sign up for Facebook is 13 yet many students start younger. Parents should also request to “friend” their child on Facebook enabling them to keep up with what comments and images are being shared.
For additional resource information on how we can better educate students about social media visit these websites
· ConnectSafely.org (provide students with tools for smart socializing)
· http://www.fosi.org Family Online Safety Organization
· http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSQ6GcskLNg (FOSI Video –Online Safety Video)
· If you choose to go one step further visit this link for a contract that parents and children can both sign for online safety: http://www.fosi.org/images/stories/resources/family-online-safety-contract.pdf/Family
With almost 20 year’s higher education experience with the majority in student recruitment and admissions, I can’t say that the content and images on a Facebook page alone can shape an admissions decision. However, I can say that they may be something that would make and admissions department say, “mmmmh”!
University recruitment and admissions officers often invite students to join their campus Facebook page. In response, students can quickly ACCEPT this invitation but first they really should ask themselves if the information and images posted on their page are appropriate for this circumstance. When asking if they are appropriate, I would suggest students look closely at what they are talking about along with comments accepted on their post and most important the images.
If a student submits a personal statement (letter de motivation) to a university that speaks about their desire to study law, love of politics and international relations along with a commitment to women’s rights yet has a Facebook page with personal images like those below then people may see a contradiction.
As adults we need to do more to assure that students understand the power, both positive and negative, of their Facebook page and the online world of communication. Schools should increase their efforts to provide students and parents with the resource tools to safely navigate Facebook and other social media. In reality, the minimum age to sign up for Facebook is 13 yet many students start younger. Parents should also request to “friend” their child on Facebook enabling them to keep up with what comments and images are being shared.
For additional resource information on how we can better educate students about social media visit these websites
· ConnectSafely.org (provide students with tools for smart socializing)
· http://www.fosi.org Family Online Safety Organization
· http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSQ6GcskLNg (FOSI Video –Online Safety Video)
· If you choose to go one step further visit this link for a contract that parents and children can both sign for online safety: http://www.fosi.org/images/stories/resources/family-online-safety-contract.pdf/Family
With almost 20 year’s higher education experience with the majority in student recruitment and admissions, I can’t say that the content and images on a Facebook page alone can shape an admissions decision. However, I can say that they may be something that would make and admissions department say, “mmmmh”!
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