Last but not least: Facebook and the pitfalls of the Internet

«Anything you type here can and may actually be used against you.» That—or something similar—could soon appear on the Facebook login page—after all, we’re used to seeing countless warning signs and notices every day that try to protect us from our own carelessness. This message might also have helped a 31-year-old insurance employee keep her job. The woman had called in sick to her employer, claiming she had to lie in the dark because of a migraine and couldn’t work at a computer. While home sick, however, she couldn’t resist and got in touch with her Facebook friends. Her employer discovered her online activity, which ultimately cost her her job.
The employer defended himself in an interview with 20 Minuten, saying that the Facebook activity had been discovered by chance. There is no systematic monitoring. Nevertheless, it’s generally a good idea to be on your guard: Your Facebook network includes not only friends you’ve added or potential friends, but also employers and many others. Even if they aren’t part of the actual system, it’s likely that they can decipher the system-specific code.