Be smart when 'Facebook stalking'

Status updates. Photo albums. Top friends. Relationship statuses. A day without these applications could potentially be a teen's worst nightmare. Admit it: you've been "hard at work" on your computer, when the overwhelming urge to check your Facebook takes over. Of course, you give in, and end up wasting hours Facebook stalking. (Remember, the first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem). "Facebook stalking" is the term that has developed for a typically harmless practice of finding people on Facebook and learning about them without their knowledge. The term is taken somewhat lightly because, well, that's the whole point of Facebook. People who join Facebook have the mutual understanding that we will all Facebook stalk each other. Whether the stalking is sporadic or done with a specific goal in mind, teens are constantly "checking up" on their friends. It's easy to find out who your friends are talking to, what your ex did last weekend, or if anyone has gone "Facebook official" with his or her relationship.

However, contrary to many beliefs, it isn't just students who are Facebook stalking anymore. Law enforcement has been known to use pictures or information from Facebook in processing people for vandalism, drug possession and other illegal activity. Also, employers and universities are beginning to hop on Facebook to look at the profiles of potential employees and students.

The moral is, if you're using Facebook, that's great, but just be sure to stay smart and safe in the process. This can be done by editing privacy settings, thinking twice before posting a photo, and most importantly, using common sense. Revealing where you plan to meet your friends, your class schedule, or your street address is almost an open invitation for strangers or real stalkers to find you.

Although Facebook has made it acceptable for us to all secretly stalk each other, it is important to keep one thing in mind: there is a good chance that not only friends, but also strangers may be Facebook stalking you in return.

Alexandra Zubenko

Lisle