Are you concerned about your privacy when you participate in Facebook and other social networking sites? Why?

"For sure! It is definitely important to keep certain things such as your address and phone number off those things. I also think people need to start watching what pictures they post and be more careful when they post status updates when they say exactly where they are going all the time! Makes stalking and finding someone real easy nowadays. You have to be careful because even if you're adding only your friends, they are easy to break into. Someone could always leave their account up on accident, or they could let their friend on it not knowing their intentions!"
--Shana Snyder, 22, graduate student/substitute teacher from Athens

"Probably not as much as I should be. I try not to post anything too personal and only infrequently use the sites, but there are a lot of crazy, violent people out there."
--Erin Hyman, 28, an office manager/delivery driver from Athens

"Yes, absolutely, but not just as a woman. I believe everyone should be aware that the internet - while useful and convenient - can also be dangerous."
--Catherine Maynard, 22, graduate student at Nelsonville

"Yes, which is why I have all my pictures private (I think?). And I'd never be friends with anyone I'd never met before."
--Natalie Knoth, 21, a student/journalism major from Athens

"No, I only share minimal information about myself."
--Amanda Sharrai, 33, a community organizer from Athens

"I rarely go to my Facebook and there is virtually nothing there about me that would be concerning."
--Amie Nogrady, 42, a freelance writer from Glouster

"Yes. I only started Facebook to see pictures of my grandson. I prefer e-mail, and wonder at the great amount of time some people are wasting on Facebook. Recently my Facebook was "hacked" so I had to change my settings. I do not understand, nor do I sympathize in any way, with smart-asses who wantonly attack other people's privacy. The Internet has somehow encouraged net-savvy people who enjoy being malicious by inconveniencing or hurting others."
--Lois D. Whealey, 78, a citizen activist/independent humanities scholar from Athens

"The most important fact that I keep in mind when using social networking is that if I don't want something to be seen, I shouldn't post it. Privacy filters aren't 100 percent and word spreads quickly if you speak of someone in an ill light. If you don't want it to be known, don't post it on a global interface. It seems simple, but it escapes attention a lot."
--Caitlin Seida, 21, a freelance writer from Nelsonville

"I don't share much on the networking sites. I don't have time to tell everyone what I am doing at all hours of the day. I have a life to live."
--Jennifer Cooper, 42, with a non-profit from Stewart

"I never really considered Facebook as an invasion of my privacy; maybe this is because I am young. But I do adhere to strict privacy settings."
--Kari Lowery, 18, a student from Athens

"Not at all, because I have my privacy settings to 'friends only' and I never use any of my credit cards on Facebook or any other social networking site."
--Anne Whitman, 60, an adjunct instructor from Athens

"I do not participate in social networking."
--Tomma Shuler, 37, in health care management from Athens

"To some extent, yes. But honestly, I turned on all privacy and security they offer and only accept people I know. I also think you must use your head when posting things online. Don't post pictures that you wouldn't want everyone to see and don't talk about work or other things that you shouldn't."
--Kate, Nelsonville, 24, a cook/dietary aide from Nelsonville

"Not really due to the privacy filters you can apply to your account."
--Missy Brown, 40, an RN Clinical Manager from The Plains

"No because I make sure everything I put on there is 'public friendly'"
--Amber Skorpenske, 20, a student from Pittsburgh

"Absolutely. Facebook changes its "face" about every other day, and I'm terrified that I'll post something that I meant for just a certain person or group to get, and it will instead go out to the masses... Aside from that, when do we work if we're constantly networking? Enough already!"
--Jessie Daniel, 38, a realtor from Glouster

"Yes. As a contributing member of society and a mother, I do worry about my privacy. I love to share my life with friends who are far away; however, I worry that others who have less than honest motives could use my personal information to harm me (i.e.: credit card fraud, hateful rumors, etc)."
--Billie Handa, 29, Director of Development, NBIA, from Nelsonville

"I am to a certain extent because you can never be too safe, but I use all of the privacy settings so I'm not too worried."
--Daniella Limoli, 20, a student from Athens

"No. I carefully consider my privacy settings and then only post on sites what I would want anyone to read. Social networking sites are a big help to businesses and other relationships, and I like the connections I've been able to make and sustain using them. It's a tool, not a replacement for common sense or common courtesy."
--Janice Phelps Williams, 54, a publisher, writer, illustrator from Athens

"Not particularly. I never put anything or say anything on Facebook that I wouldn't want someone to know about. Privacy is under your control when it comes to social networking sites."
--Marisa Welch, 23, a sales associate and student library assistant from Athens

"Of course, you have to be and everyone should be cautious when using such sites. I try not to add anyone that I don't know, keep certain information private or available only to friends, and generally do not put anything out on the web that I would care about people knowing (since it is out there forever and nowadays. Employers are looking at such sites to get a good idea of whether or not they want to hire you.) There are too many perverts, people trying to take advantage of you, etc. to be too open or blas about "letting it all hang out" on the internet."
--Ellen Lambert, 27, a full-time aunt from Albany

"I am having difficulty logging on these days and consider it just an extra and unnecessary step to contacting my friends. I don't have much interest in it so I don't participate or divulge very much. It seems to be becoming a platform for espousing causes, and as a Green, I like to spread that word but every day I get so many e-mails of desperate causes I am pretty wrung out - even after an action they want you to send it off to all your friends."
--Alexa Ross, Nelsonville, 63, a retired motel manager/actress from Nelsonville

"I am not concerned with privacy on networking sites. If I don't want information to be public, I don't give out that information."
--Tabitha Bond, 40, a business owner from Coolville

"Not really. If you get on the internet, you've got to understand you're putting yourself out there. If you want privacy, write paper letters (and hope no one else gets their hands on them). I've never been a really private person so I'm not concerned with it now."
--Debbie Williams, 60, a paralegal from Millfield

"Sometimes, even though I have my own privacy settings set high."
--Darcie Hartley, 36, office assistant -- ABH, from Albany