We are fast becoming a nation of social networking addicts - and no group more so than students. But where should we draw the line between our professional and private lives? And what are the potential risks we face when we log on?

There are some high-profile cases of careers being ruined because of inappropriate content found on social networking sites. In October last year, Philip Clarke a Tory aide was suspended after a “blacked up” Tory co-worker was posted on his Facebook page. Whether it was sheer stupidity or not, it is a scary reminder that what we post online could be seen by anyone.

Arguably, it is graduates who are at greatest risk. Facebook was created by a Harvard University student to help people on campus keep in touch and was originally based around university networks. Mass demand for the service has led it to be opened to all, with networks now based around cities rather than universities. This makes it more difficult for graduates to decide when - if ever - it is time to end your relationship with social networking.

Continuing the student lifestyle through your profile may seem the best way of avoiding having to grow up completely. But student accounts can be particularly explicit and although uploading photos from a 48-hour post-exam bender might seem like a great idea at the time, you never know who might be looking at them a few months down the line. And it could be to the determent of your fledgling career.

Throughout the press there have been reports about employers snooping on applicants’ accounts before they even make it to interview. Research has shown that one in five employers use social networking sites to check up on how candidates project themselves, with almost two thirds admitting that details found online affect their decisions. So, when the boundaries between your private and professional life become blurred, is it time to walk away from social networking?

Many young people entering professions such as teaching or youth work are ‘guided’ towards leaving networking sites because of concerns that younger people under their supervision could easily find them online. In professions like these, concerned as they are with the boundaries of decency between adults and children, the risk of using such sites can be high.

For the majority of us, perhaps it is not a case of ending your relationship with social networking, but instead simply time to ‘clean up’ your account. Deleting those drunken photos, and removing the ‘What serial killer are you?’ application takes little effort and could spell the difference between getting your dream job and not.

The etiquette of social networking also gets trickier as a graduate. The nature of these sites means that you are at the mercy of other people - whether that means your ‘friend’ who is intent on tagging you in cringe-worthy Freshers’ Week photos or receiving a ‘friend request’ from your new boss.

Having two accounts is one way of avoiding tricky situations, enabling you to be as wild as you were when you were 18 under a nickname, whilst being the devoted, conscientious employee in a separate account. In reality, this is a hassle, and instead those few sneaky adjustments that edit risky content is probably the easiest solution. Although this won’t protect you from every eventuality it does offer a compromise which will still allow you license to have fun whilst ‘practising’ at being a grown up.

There are other ways to distinguish the personal from the professional, with some sites offering specific work-related networking opportunities. LinkedIn, founded in 2002, is based on the idea of extending your network of work contacts and boasts high membership amongst young professionals.

There’s also no reason why potential employers won’t be impressed by your ability to have an active social life as well keep up with work. Despite this, however, in a world where first impressions count being a member of a social networking site leaves you open to being judged by other people - but the vast benefits of membership shouldn’t be overlooked either.

Those ‘in the loop’ have access to a system which has revolutionised the way we talk to each other. By constantly enabling us to keep update with social events or just the latest gossip, sites like these have affected the way we live our lives - who can forget the Facebook petition which forced HSBC to re-think its decision on interest-free overdrafts.

In the transition from student to graduate, staying in touch seems more important than ever and these sites offer an efficient tool for communicating in an information-hungry world. Perhaps the key to successful social networking is an awareness of your surroundings and how your actions affect these … without forgetting to have a bit of fun along the way.

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