Be Careful what you Post in your Status!
First social media was used for networking. Then, we began using it for advertising and marketing. Now, it’s used for collecting debts? That’s right, collection agencies have begun to utilise popular social media sites Facebook and MySpace to find those owing money. Spaces that seem very personal to those of us are being invaded by our least favourite people. The place we share family photos and update our status for those friends living long distance are screened by debt collectors, should we keep our information public.
Common mishaps include boasting about money and material goods in your status or pictures. If you owe money, a collection agency will can use this information as evidence that you have the funds to repay your debt.
The biggest issue concerning the presence of debt collectors on Facebook is one of privacy. Is it legal for the collectors to use this information against someone? In the United States, crossing the line of privacy is illegal under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The law only protects individuals from the method a collection firm uses to obtain information about a debtor’s location. In the law, there is no writing against the use of social media websites, though probably because they did not exist when the law was last updated. Additionally, it does not protect the information shared on a social media website, such as the written word of the user or his or her pictures. All items can be used against them should the collection agency find it necessary.
Whereas young adults between the ages of twenty and thirty more often use privacy settings, the newer, yet older in age Facebook users keep their profiles public. They are on Facebook to find old friends and want their profile open to the public so that old classmates and acquaintances can find them as well. This makes them more susceptible towards strangers finding out personal information about them. A lack of privacy settings opens up a person to what they may think is an invasion of privacy, when in reality, that privacy can be controlled with a few simple clicks.
So beware, no matter how young or old you are, of your privacy settings and the information you put on your Facebook. Otherwise, you never know who is going to read it. Ultimately the quandary is this, which is worse, being found on Facebook because you owe a large debt or simply actually owing a lot of money in general? Both are unfortunate but your best bet is to just pay off your debt and be free of the whole mess once and for all.
Image by Martin Kingsley
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