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I don't know how many of you are aware of www.thefacebook.com - a new internet site that is the rage on many campuses...my S joined and is having a great time re-connecting with old friends attending different colleges across the nation. When he let me look over his shoulder on day to view it, I was shocked so many kids not only post their photos (the girls especially have some very alluring ones...) but also their dorm rooms, phone numbers and email addresses...I worry that this might be too much information floating out there on the internet and hence, if you feel the same, you may want to caution your kids that if they have joined The Face Book, to maybe be a bit more discreet re: their addresses, etc. Perhaps I am being overlycautious but especially if I had a D, I'd be worried that someone not so nice could hack in, see her, locate her and perhaps even show up for an unexpected visit.

By Interesteddad (Interesteddad) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 08:27 pm: Edit

You can only see that information if someone has agreed to be your "friend". Anyone logging into Facebook doesn't see the profiles or addresses.

By Editrix (Editrix) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 08:37 pm: Edit

Interesteddad is correct: If you log into thefacebook.com--which I believe you can do only if you have a valid email address at a participating college (though hackers could probably get in too)--you can see the full profiles, with addresses, etc., only for "friends" and for members of your own college. You can see photos and college affiliations for other students, though, and many colleges have online directories in which anyone can look up student addresses and phone numbers.

This does raise some possible security issues that may bear watching.

By Patient (Patient) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 12:47 am: Edit

I guess that if you trust everyone even remotely affiliated with your college it's fine...but it's true that pictures and dorm/room numbers are posted for the facebook for the particular school. Anyone with an email address within the university system can access it, including faculty, staff, alums...