By Brian Malcom
Be careful who you friend on facebook. A trend is developing, as reported by CNN on their SciTech Blog , where facebook "users" create fake profiles and seek to friend recruits or contacts. These fake profiles are coming to be known as Facebook Ghosts. They are called ghosts because they seem to disappear as quickly as they surface.
Yahoo Sports reported that one NFL team allegedly used fake Facebook profiles to trick recruits into disclosing personal information. Apparently, the team would create the fake profile, gain friend-level access to a recruit's profile, and then troll for evidence of poor character or for evidence of potential behavioral problems. As CNN pointed out, "[t]he thinking there is that if a team official spots a player in Facebook photos smoking dope or partying hard, the team might avoid a bad draft pick and a potential public relations problem."
You might be wondering why YLB is concerned with a practice that is taking place in the sports industry. Well...think about it. What other industry recruits young talent? What other industry is uniquely concerned with public perception and public image? What other industry invests heavily in young talent? If you guessed Law, congratulations. Stay tuned for Facebook tips to avoid a haunting experience.