When they developed Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg and his fellow developers could not have imagined the impact the social networking site has had on the world’s ability to connect with people. Today, Facebook boasts over 500 million users, which is more than the population of the U.S., however the site also provides another avenue for security risks that make college students more accessible for identity theft.
Few N.C. State students can say they don’t log on Facebook every day. They post notes and photos, tag and poke, all the while exposing themselves to other Facebook users, friends or otherwise. According to Facebook, about 70 percent of Facebook users are outside the U.S., where 34.6 percent of fraud perpetrators are reported to be by the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Students need to be aware of what they post on their Facebook, not just because employers and administrators can see, but because millions of other people whose purposes could be to steal your identity can look you up.
It may seem far-fetched that someone could use Facebook to steal your identity, but someone could use it to start looking. The point is students are not conscience of what a little information can do. With your name, birth date and town, a simple search could unearth a wealth of information for the casual searcher. According to Javelin’s Identity Fraud Survey Report, young adults age 18 to 24 are more at risk than any other group for identity theft because it take them an average of 132 days to detect fraud and identity theft. With this striking statistic, a college student could already be on their way to having their identity stolen before they even finish their first semester
After coming under fire, Facebook buffed up it security features for users by offering controls over what information, including pictures, tags and wall posts, can be seen by who. Facebook packages recommended settings for people who don’t have time, though security should never be shucked off. Taking an extra few minutes can be an investment to protect yourself on your Facebook.
Many students never think identity theft on Facebook can happen to them, but it is entirely possible. The public started holding Facebook accountable to provide ample security and privacy features, but it is up to the public to use the tools they have been given to keep themselves safe. Students should give their security changes and policies a second look, just to make sure they are controlling what can and can’t been seen. Facebook can be a cool place to hang out and express yourself, but needs to be used with personal security in mind.