For Teenage Girls, Facebook Means Always Being Camera-Ready

By RANDYE HODER

It used to be that the only people concerned about getting caught in grungy sweat pants, sans makeup, were starlets stalked by the paparazzi. But in today’s hyper-public Internet age, young teenagers are relentlessly living their lives camera-ready — and it’s not a pretty picture.

I first noticed this while looking over my 14-year-old son’s shoulder at photos of his “friends” on Facebook. Girls, in particular, seemed to be always posing — in some cases vamping — for the camera: hair swept back, hand on hip, dressed just so. In at least a few instances, they looked as if they were auditioning for a Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, clad in bikinis that left little to the imagination.

Creating a persona via Facebook is nothing new. Kids have been doing this since the site was first launched eight years ago (and even before that with MySpace and LiveJournal). By carefully selecting their own profile pictures, making public comments, and curating the photos they post, younger teenagers have become quite adept at managing their image.

6 Career-Killing Facebook Mistakes

by Erin Joyce

With more than 400 million active visitors, Facebook is arguably the most popular social networking site out there. And while the site is known for the casual social aspect, many users also use it as a professional networking tool. With that kind of reach, Facebook can be a valuable tool for connecting to former and current colleagues, clients and potential employers. In fact, surveys suggest that approximately 30% of employers are using Facebook to screen potential employees – even more than those who check LinkedIn, a strictly professional social networking site. Don't make these Facebook faux-pas – they might cost you a great opportunity.