Perils of Facebook

[ASTZTMimi]

I have noticed a scary growing trend and that is for pictures of Greek life and specifically of Greeks on Facebook doing stupid and/or illegal things. Our chapter has often addressed this concern with our members but none of them seem to take it seriously. Not only can our members get in trouble but it can look bad on our organization from a recruitment stand point AND with our university. Even some of our sisters/alumnae have expressed concern over what kind of image we are presenting for our chapter and our sorority on a whole.

Have other chapters had this same concern? How have you dealt with it?

[XAntoftheSkyX]

My colony has had similar fears with members' Facebook profiles. We now make it so that everyone, including pledges, make their profile completely private to everyone but friends. We also un-tag photos of anyone within the colony engaging in less than desirable actions.

A piece of advice, there are fake profiles set up my schools, companies, etc that will add you as a friend to get to your information and see if you are doing things you don't want others to see. Do go and add that cute girl/guy just because they added you first. It also goes along way to just never put up compromising photos in the first place.

[CRUSS]

Our IFC/ Panhel/ MGC/ monitors facebook profiles and requires all compromising photos to be taken down

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by CRUSS

Our IFC/ Panhel/ MGC/ monitors facebook profiles and requires all compromising photos to be taken down

Wow. That's a little too much power. I understand if the national organization or chapter has guidelines, but it shouldn't be up to a council to govern things like that.

[Gusteau]

I was absolutely appalled when I was looking at the pictures of a friend's cousin who joined an NPC Sorority this year. Her chapter sisters are the epitome of badly behaved women. Drinking at the bar in letters, dancing on table, and whats worse - posting it all on facebook. If you don't see how its stupid for you to do personally wouldn't you at least think of the seriously detrimental effect it has on your campus image?

I've also seen a lot of party pictures where a guy is wearing letters or a rush shirt in the background. We don't wear anything fraternity related at parties because its clear that some random girl can catch you in the background of her weekend pictures. I've identified where someone partied last weekend by a stray article of clothing way too much via facebook.

Seriously, some people just don't get it...

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

I've also seen a lot of party pictures where a guy is wearing letters or a rush shirt in the background. We don't wear anything fraternity related at parties because its clear that some random girl can catch you in the background of her weekend pictures. I've identified where someone partied last weekend by a stray article of clothing way too much via facebook.

Oh my...
where a guy partied? that's so terrible!

[KSUViolet06]

I suggest doing a search for the term "Facebook" because we've discussed the issues of active members partying, photos etc. before. I'd imagine that most of our chapters had to deal with this in some way when Facebook debuted.

Oh, and private profiles solve everything.

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Oh my...
where a guy partied? that's so terrible!

In a school with tense Greek-Administration relations (where they do look at our facebooks) its just not a good idea. Anyway I would rather people thought of things like friendship, service, and a commitment to education when they thought of Delta Chi, not partying. Its not that we don't but I personally don't want to perpetuate a stereotype.

[JohnnyCash]

Many sorority women at my school are very careful with what they put on their Facebook profile (pictures, statuses, etc).

Guys not so much.

[OhSeven]

At my school/in my chapter, nothing is so extreme; I think everyone just tries to use common sense. I personally have my entire facebook on lockdown and encourage my sisters to do so as well. People who don't have stuff ending up every once in a while on Posh Society - not good.

Some chapters at my college sometimes maximize their facebook profiles during rush. Like for instance they'll have every single thing hidden from the rest of the network except a classy cute default photo with letters in the corner.

[Zillini]

Many a PNM has been cut due to her Facebook page.

Potential employers are checking them out too.

[KSUViolet06]

In my opinion:

Facrebook is now completely customizable and there are a million ways to keep different people or groups of people from seeing different things like photos, wall posts, etc.

If you get released from recruitment as a PNM or incur some sort of disciplinary action within your chapter as an active sister as a result of something on your Facebook profile, you probably aren't the brightest crayon in the box.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by Zillini

Many a PNM has been cut due to her Facebook page.

Potential employers are checking them out too.

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

In my opinion:

Facrebook is now completely customizable and there are a million ways to keep different people or groups of people from seeing different things like photos, wall posts, etc.

If you get released from recruitment as a PNM or incur some sort of disciplinary action within your chapter as an active sister as a result of something on your Facebook profile, you probably aren't the brightest crayon in the box.

Can't be said too many times. If there's something on your Facebook profile that you wouldn't want your clergy or employer to see, PLEASE set it to Friends Only! In the last year, one of my work duties has become checking Facebook profiles (like I needed more to do!).