Med Students' Stupidity on Facebook

Georgiatwins
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:17:12 +0000

Okay, I am about to date myself, but as I told both kids recently-once you put something on Facebook, or anywhere in cyberspace, albiet briefly-you have just allowed someone else a “snapshot in time” of yourself. While I can see the original utility of social networking sites, there is something strangely voyeuristic to me about being able to read the “walls” and profiles of people who have not secured their privacy settings. Several adults I know have been alerted ( via friends second hand through friend’s children) of inappropriate pictures, comments, etc. of middle and high-school kids.

Often times physicians do change their views on a number of issues as they progress through post-graduate training, but my experience tells me many are not thinking of the long term marketing or future employment prospects for themselves with some of the pictures described in the earlier posts.

I am concerned there is an entire generation of people whose primary form of communication is email, “texting”, instant messaging and cell phone conversations. While telecommuting is increasing popular, personal interaction will always be critical in areas such as law, teaching and medicine.