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Have you been following the latest brouhaha over Facebook?

According to PC Magazine, "Earlier this month, Facebook announced that it had updated its terms of use to clarify that information you share outside of your own profile – like posts written on friends' Walls, replies to their status updates, or messages you send via the site's messaging service – will remain on Facebook even if you delete your account. Amidst a backlash over privacy, the social networking site reversed course and reverted back to its old terms of service. Today, the site unveiled a revamped system that will let users vote on future updates."

For a fun, happy little social networking site, Facebook has had its share of tempests in teapots.


I realized the power of Facebook not so long ago when I applied for a voice over job. Within minutes of my resume being sent, I was "facebooked." 


The friendlier meaning of "facebooked," of course, is to have your profile on facebook searched out. The more problematic definition is:" getting caught doing or saying something you don't want others to find out about."

You should, of course, assume that potential employers and business contacts will check you out on social networking sites. So while it's fun to post that drunken photo of your graduation party, it's probably not such a good idea from the standpoint of your future employment. And certainly once you are active in the work world, posts should be clean, positive, and presentable.


So what fun is that?


Clearly, from what we learn in the story cited above, users want the option of being able to delete a profile, and perhaps reincarnate for a new stage of life - with the assurance that all trace of their past life be expunged.


And perhaps that is the way of the future - users will have personas that disappear as they move from stage to stage of their lives. Until then, be wary of what you post. Big Brother is looking!

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