Blog: Stalking Online

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

For a recent Jayplay article, I wrote about the importance of knowing your privacy settings and posting responsibly on social networking sites. I placed the biggest emphasis on posting photos online.

Before writing this article I prided myself on not having a Foursquare account. No one should be able to track me down, for I have not left a trail anywhere online. At least that is what I had thought.

While researching for my article, I learned from founders of ICanStalkU.com that posting pictures reveal more about you than you realize.

I needed to see how careless I was being with my own account. I decided to Facebook stalk myself and see what I was putting out there for the Facebook world to see. The results were less than comforting.

Through pictures alone, anyone could figure out both of my residencies in Lawrence and who I lived with at both places. They would be able to identify members of my family, my main group of friends, and our usual hang out spots. They would even discover the campus organization I am involved with, where I spend the remainder of my free time.

The scary honest truth is that there are people in the world just looking for easy targets. If someone tried hard enough, that person could locate me through the information I have handed them as a gift. From this experience, I learned that I need to start posting responsibly and stop being an easy target.

Saha: Facebook distorts ideal image of self

As Facebook evolves, so do the attitudes surrounding it.

/news/2011/oct/05/facebook-distorts/

Users abuse Facebook

/news/2005/feb/10/news_campus_facebook/

Following has never been so easy

A picture really is worth 1,000 words.

/news/2011/aug/31/following-has-never-been-so-easy/

Moffitt: Modern technology creates new scandals

With the rise of cell phones and social networking site, our political ...

/news/2012/mar/09/moffitt-modern-technology/

Facebook + family = DISASTER?

What to do when you get a friend request from your mom.

/news/2010/jan/21/facebook-family-disaster/

Facebook offers comfort after loss

Facebook has become one way people grieve after the loss of a ...

/news/2011/sep/19/facebook-offers-comfort/

Malicious Intimacy

Four students' experiences with domestic violence.

/news/2011/may/04/malicious-intimacy/

Students suspect facebook.com monitored by schools, police

/news/2006/jan/25/facebook/

Facebook accounts pose dangers

Incriminating information online can both endanger student security and harm future career ...

/news/2007/oct/16/facebook_accounts_pose_dangers/

Welcome to the World of 'You'

Move over Facebook, step aside MySpace: a new online community called YouTube ...

/news/2006/aug/14/youtube/

Don't Let Facebook Get You Down

The Site That Sucks You In and Gives You the Tools to ...

/news/2011/oct/27/dont-let-facebook-get-you-down/

Matney: You vs. Facebook you

Don't judge a book by its cover... or a person by his ...

/news/2010/apr/14/matney-you-/

How we met: Mackenzie Masterson and Kieran ...

All great relationships had to start somewhere.

/news/2010/may/06/how-we-met/

Carmichael: Enjoy the reassurance of Facebook-stalking

While Facebook inevitably has its tendency to annoy the heck out of ...

/news/2011/aug/25/carmichael-enjoy-reassurance-facebook-stalking/

Privacy matters

How your Facebook profile could hurt your job prospects.

/news/2009/nov/19/privacy-matters/

Blog: Facebook Stalking

Getting sucked in.

/news/2011/nov/30/blog-facebook-stalking/

Online option makes program more accessible

Social welfare master’s program adopts long-distance learning format to reach more students.

/news/2010/feb/14/online-option-makes-program-more-accessible/

Overdraft fees affect student finances

New bill could change the way banks deal with people who overdraw ...

/news/2009/dec/10/overdraft-fees-affect-student-finances/

See the World... One Couch at a ...

CouchSurfers explain why staying with strangers is the best way to travel

/news/2007/mar/08/see_world_one_couch_time/

In 140 characters or less

The simplistically designed social medium Twitter answers more questions than, ‘What are ...

/news/2009/apr/09/140_characters_or_less/

[thedatebook?]

/news/2005/sep/14/thedatebook/

The Anti-Social Network

Facebook has people going green... with jealousy.

/news/2012/feb/29/anti-social/

Simmermon: Photos lack purpose

Students are becoming obsessed with seeing their own photos. The thrill of ...

/news/2008/jan/18/simmermon_photos_lack_purpose/

Winer: Social media multiply pain, scope of ...

Cyberbullying adds extra dimension to problem.

/news/2010/oct/07/winer-social-media-multiply-pain-scope-bullying/

Mangiaracina: Why insignificant news trumps the real ...

/news/2008/oct/23/mangiaracina_why_insignificant_news_trumps_real_ne/

Bridging the Post-Grad Gap

Not sure where life is leading you after graduation? A gap year ...

/news/2012/may/02/bridging-gap/

Your brain on the Book

The psychological appeal and effect of Facebook

/news/2007/dec/06/your_brain_book/

Losing weight, losing control: Emily's story

Emily McCoy shares her personal struggles with an eating disorder and how ...

/news/2011/apr/27/my-story/

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Although never easy, overcoming a breakup can make you stronger.

/news/2012/apr/04/breaking-up/

/weblogs/beer-for-breakfast/2009/oct/03/a-whole-new-world/

Campus squirrels inspire humorous Twitter account

The operator of the account denies being a "squirrel leader," and disavows ...

/news/2012/mar/14/campus-squirrels-inspire-humorous-twitter-account/

Students fall victim to identity fraud

Several students have reported identity fraud cases to Lawrence police in recent ...

/news/2007/sep/04/students_fall_victim_identity_fraud/

Facebook drama

Why we act and interact online.

/news/2010/nov/04/facebook-drama/

Mangiaracina: How I broke the Internet addiction

/news/2008/sep/12/internet_addiction/

Armed to defend

/news/2005/sep/01/armed_defend/

Letter: No more Facebook topics on opinion ...

Opinion page should discuss more important issues.

/news/2011/apr/28/letter-no-more-facebook-topics-opinion-page/

Be back soon

/news/2005/sep/01/away_messages/

Social media obsession

Do we need a little less Facebook and a little more face ...

/news/2011/feb/16/social-media-obsession/

Andy Carvin visits campus to talk about ...

The NPR social media leader has become known as “the man who ...

/news/2012/apr/12/andy-carvin-visits-campus-talk-about-tweeting-arab/

Jayplays says: Aug. 20, 2009

Learn the ways of Mashable.com and what exactly 'Google-plotzing' is.

/news/2009/aug/20/jayplays_says_aug_20_2009/

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