<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> With over 110 million active users and over 55,000 networks Facebook ® is a fun networking tool to keep in touch with friends near and far but unfortunately, it can also be a dangerous. Employers like to use Facebook because it allows them to see potential employees as they really are.  Users need to understand how to protect themselves online. Stalkers and the like can see almost everything one does on facebook—when who and what they post on someone’s wall, when and where they are going to a social event, their relationship status, etc.  Users need to be well informed about internet safety and security before they use this site.

As online shopping become more and more popular the flaws involved with it become more and more apparent. One of the biggest issues is the lack of customer service these companies provide. They understand how easy it is for a customer to leave for a competitor but when they don’t respond to questions via the phone or email it might be a better explanation for the lack of loyalty.   I know of numerous times that either a friend or I have attempted to find out more information about a product and the E-mail was never answered or if it was they just repeated the vague description on the website. As long as this issue continues they will never be able to truly compete with the big brick and mortar companies. 

Although social networking websites such as Myspace have provided a big medium for youngsters to make new friends and broaden their networks, it has also invited some uncalled problems for them.  One of these problems includes the existence of sexual predators on Myspace.  Although, one doesn’t think beyond the concepts of making new friends, posting pictures, and exhibiting one’s likes and dislikes while signing up for an account, the existence of sexual predators, unfortunately is true.  Considering the rapid increase in the number of incidents involving sexual predators, parents are now being to panic about their kids’ safety.  Parents all over now stumble upon the same question, how do they protect their kids from falling into the trap of these predators? 

Facebook has spun out of control.  A social website that started as a way for college students to communicate and interact is now a mass network open to virtually anyone to join.  With this causes many concerns including the privacy of its users.  Although each individual member is able to control the content at which his/her page reveals, others can post information that can be extremely harmful to the individual.  More drama and problems continue to occur from Facebook’s growth and it seems like the only way to talk to someone anymore is to log on, go to www.facebook.com, and post a message on someone’s wall.

<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -->

The problem with chat rooms is that they are too vulnerable to illegal activity. Most chat rooms are unanimous so people are able to say anything that they want. Because people are not accountable for the things they say, they often say and do things that they would not do in front of people. Young teenagers especially tend to spend a lot of time in chat rooms. These kids end up talking to people they don’t actually no, and often talk with people who are much older than they are. It is an unsafe thing for kids to be doing because they can come across a lot of inappropriate things.

Ebay has risen as the premier site to buy and sell just about anything, including the kitchen sink.  This mega auction house has also created a haven for scammers looking to make a fast buck.  Since Ebay started people have been creating auctions that are selling items that don’t exsist and taking people’s money.  This is a real problem not only for the immediate legal consequences but it hurts ebay as a website.  It decreases overall credibility and causes user to lose trust in the system as well as the users.  The concept of ebay is a great one, it gives people the freedom to sell their stuff to someone who wants it at fair market price not $5 at some garage sale. 

Topic Proposal: Videos and movies being downloaded illegally before and after official release.

            Recently the issue of illegal downloading of movies on servers such as DC++ and Limewire, have caused some studios and actors to become unhappy.  The websites work just like downloading music illegally, yet it’s a full motion picture.  People who may think that they are downloading the movies legally could be wrong.  Generally, most people download from sites that allow the sharing of files, this is an illegal action and the punishments could be severe if caught.  Most people, unaware of the site being illegal, download the movies straight to their computers, and law enforcement is beginning to crack down.

I feel that there are some problems with Facebook when it comes to the business world.  A lot of corporations and organizations are starting to look on Facebook to determine if you are suitable for the job.  These corporations look at such things like pictures, postings, messages and other applicants which can be added to for profile.  The security on Facebook blocks some of these things but not all of them.  Some people have not received jobs based on their profile information.  On the internet you can find pictures posted off of Facebook of drunken girls.  These are the type of things that turn off business. 

One of the many problems with Ebay is that people buy and sell counterfeit items daily.  First of all, the buyer is tricked into buying something other than what they had originally intended.  Examples include receiving a counterfeit event ticket that does not work when the buyer gets to the venue or even as simply as receiving an empty box that the item was originally packaged in.  On the other hand, the people that are selling these items are receiving money for items that are, more than likely, worthless.  If these items do have worth then there is also a good chance that they are acquired illegally.  These items could include stolen goods or illegal copies of CD’s, DVD’s, etc.  This is an bad situation all around.

Over the past few years, the music industry has faced perhaps its most dangerous threat: illegal, free music downloads. I still remember those days when you would actually walk into a record store to buy the latest CD of your favorite artist. The huge decline of sales that the music and record industries faced when file-sharing programs started to gain popularity and to offer free, almost instantaneous downloads of songs almost caused the bankrupt of millions of stores, labels, and music producers. Government has taken measures by creating new copyright laws and giving fines to users of illegal file-sharing and P2P programs. Moreover, some programs like Apple’s iTunes have tried to establish a legal system of music downloads at relatively reasonable prices. However, the fact that file-sharing softwares and illegal music downloading offer so many advantages to users has made this problem far from being controlled.