Reputation Management, Internet Privacy, and Social Media Quick Hits

Should you Accept a Facebook Request from a Co-Worker?

It goes without saying that you should be careful who you accept as a friend on Facebook, but sometimes making the distinction between friend and acquaintance online is not as easy as it is in the real world. In this article from Reuters, Richard Baum discusses the etiquette of declining a Facebook request from a work colleague.

Honor Student Suspended for Facebook Page Insulting Teacher

An Illinois student was suspended for five days after setting up a Facebook page that was critical of one of his teachers. Now, the boy’s mother is considering possible legal action as she wonders whether or not the school has the authority to punish a student for behavior that occurred off-campus in the student’s own home. As demonstrated in this case, as well as a number of other high-profile stories, it is becoming increasingly difficult for schools to distinguish what does and does not constitute punishable behavior when it comes to the Internet.

Are You the Real You Online?

According to a recent research study, social media users on websites like Facebook and MySpace are more likely to reveal their true personalities rather than a false or idealized version of themselves. This conclusion defies the popular understanding that Internet users can use a social networking site to “be somebody else.” The study, which can be found in its entirety here, is somewhat limited in its scope in that it only examined 236 profiles from students aged 17-22. As such, it’s unclear whether the same conclusions can be drawn for Facebook’s rapidly increasing older userbase.

Phishing Attack Continues to Plague Twitter

Despite warnings to users, a widespread phishing attack is still making the rounds on Twitter. The scam, which comes via a direct message, says “Lol. this you?” and then offers a phishing link. Clicking the link will take you to a phony Twitter log-in page. If you receive this message, do not click on the link and report the account you received it from as spam.

Analysts Discover Possible Link To Chinese Government in Google Hack

According to the Financial Times, analysts are close to linking a recent Chinese-borne cyber attack on Google to the Chinese government. From the article: “[The] contractors have traced the spyware code to Shanghai Jiaotong University and Lanxiang Vocational School. The first one has ties to the military. The schools have denied involvement.” Even if a definitive link were made to the Chinese government regarding the Google attack, you can bet the Chinese government would deny it. Nevertheless, any new piece of information will have an important bearing on Google’s still pending decision to be a part of the Chinese marketplace.