In the age of online social networking, people are always being warned about how the information being put on sites like Facebook and Twitter are open to the world to see. Potential employers and even University Admissions officers can and are checking social network sites when evaluating potential employees and candidates for admission to the University.

Samantha Gilbert, a senior in English, said she thinks it is a good idea if potential employers check sites like Facebook.

“There are a lot of people who are fake during interviews. You’re trying your hardest to impress future employers, but on Facebook you’re trying to impress your peers,” Gilbert said.

Recently, Facebook redesigned the site completely, including making changes to privacy controls.

Jackie Dilio, a junior in zoology, said she took full advantage of the new privacy settings, but isn’t fully satisfied.

“I don’t censor mine as much as I should. When I’m a senior and looking for a job, I’ll probably have to take a lot of it down,” Dilio said.

However, as far as admissions officers for the University checking applicant’s personal pages go, Gilbert said the potential applicants should be notified.

“I feel like the University should tell you because it’s a public university,” Gilbert said.

In a CBS News article, Tim DeMello, owner of the Internet company Ziggs, said he estimates that about 20 percent of employers look at online profiles before interviewing applicants.

In addition, a recent CareerBuilder.com survey finds that 22 percent of employers used social networks in the hiring process.

Ryan Didsbury, a senior in marketing, thinks people should be smart enough to censor themselves online.

“I don’t like that [potential employers] have the ability to check your Facebook but I think people should limit what they put on it,” Didsbury said. “It’s stupid that people put party pictures up there and they should limit it because everyone is going to see it.”

As a senior, Didsbury said he is beginning to alter the content on his page just in case prospective employers check his profile.

“I’m starting to apply for jobs so I’m slowly deleting pictures that aren’t employer appropriate,” Didsbury said. “If you wanted them to know that information then you should bring it up in the interview.”

De’Ja Alexander, a freshman in biological sciences, said social networking sites could be either beneficial or detrimental.

“It depends on how you use social networks. If you use it for actual networking – getting to know potential employers – then it can be a good thing,” Alexander said. “If you put inappropriate pictures on it, it can affect you negatively.”

Senior Associate Director for the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, Krista Domnick said her office does not seek out information posted on social networking sites when looking at scholarship candidates.

“We look at the application material. If we became aware of something that would implicate a student’s character is not what they purport to be, then we would take that into account,” Domnick said. “I can’t imagine a situation that I would [check a personal site] unless it was something that smacks us in the face.”

Gilbert said people should not expect total privacy on the Internet, which is a public forum.

“It’s on the Internet, you put it out there, you have got to expect people to see it,” Gilbert said.

Dilio had similar feelings about people taking personal responsibility for what they put on social networking sites.

“When you put something out on the Internet you have to realize people can see it. That’s their decision,” Dilio said. “By using any social networking site you’re putting your information out there and that’s the whole purpose of it.”

It is important to note that not every potential employer checks the social networking site of applicants. Keith Getchell, General Manager of Two Guys Ameritalian Restaurant on Hillsborough Street, said it never occurred to him to look up an applicant’s Facebook page.

“I don’t go that deep,” Getchell said. “I think I have a pretty good vibe on people and interviewing them.” The point is that the information is out there for people see, whether friend, family or potential employer.