I expect a backlash against such networks - from the users themselves, and I do not think the next generation will be quite so impressed or addicted. After all, who sends e-mails now, or uses ICQ; how many bother to sit on MSN etc all day and night now? There was a time for each of these, now they are also-rans for many.

The most interesting report I have read recently concerns the way in which having a small social network tends to make people feel important within that group but having a large and ever growing one makes them lose this sense of self-importance: it has no feeling of exclusivity. It is coming close to the old joke about not wanting to be a member of a club that would have me as a member.

I say yes. The same reason as to why an employer should look up such information. Who are you? As a student or an employee anyone can look up the information you have made public same with youtube. There was a sheriffs deputy that was fired here earlier this year posing gangsta style with his gun. Is this how the sheriff who is elected wants to be represented? Is this the guy you want patrolling your neighborhood? Do a search for your principle or one of your teachers. Chances are they are not showing themselves doing a keg stand. That is not to say they haven't or don't for that matter...
It is a public representation. As a member of a school weather it be a military academy or a state school tax dollars help to fund it. If you are dumb enough to put that stuff out there that's your fault. Some things should remain private.

There are privacy settings for these things for a reason. Use them and remember that anything on the net can be used either for you or against you...

no

employers/bosses forcing their employess to add them as friends on various social networking sites means the privacy settings are less useful than one might imagine.

PLEASE do not get me wrong there. That is something different all together. That is a privacy issue and should NOT even be a question. What I do at home on my time is my business. You are not allowed into my private life. If you have to get my permission I will not allow that.

If you have that information public for anyone to see that is your fault and can be looked at. If it is private then no. Where is the line then? You want to see my emails, text messages, photo albums??? NO NO NO!!!

tailboarder is right, privacy settings are key. If your social networking site doesn't have strong privacy settings, time to find a new one.

That, or don't put private information that you don't want outside people to see on Facebook etc.

One more quick point. When I say email I mean my personal account not my work account. My work account is bought and paid for by them for work and is a direct representaion. What I do on their phone on their computer on their bandwidth on their time is also their business.