The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI -- Pretty much everyone has one.

"At lot of people were talking about it at work and different things.  And you know connecting with old high school friends and we thought we might try it," said parent Paula Brawner.

And folks around the world log on everyday. Yep, I’m talking about Facebook.  Created over six years ago, the social networking web site was originally for college students only.  But, by popular demand it became a public commodity.

"It's a way to stay connected with people that leave Kirksville or don't go to our school necessarily because we don't see them ever," said high school student Katlyn Elam.

That move also opened the site to high school students.

"I got mine when I first went into high school just because a lot of my friends have it.  I can talk to everyone, I can put pictures on look at other people's pictures and talk to other people," said high school student Hannah Dollins.

And even though Facebook is for connecting with friends and family, sometimes…posted pictures or comments become liabilities.

But, most parents of high school students trust their kids to use their common sense and internet etiquette.

"I think that you educate your children and teach them the best that you can.  But, then you have to allow them some freedom and some opportunity for privacy so they can learn lessons as they go into adulthood," said parent Ann Hutton.

But, it doesn't always work out that way.  More often than not, images that may not be totally appropriate will make it to the web.

With technology, many times we forget that once an image or posting is on-line it's there forever.  More importantly, any potential future employer could simply go to Google…type in your name and get a look at anything anyone has posted about you.

At Truman’s Career Center, Director Lesa Kerlin has the conversation with college students everyday.

"I think there are two really important things.  They're looking to see what good they have, particularly on a professional networking site like Linked-In.  So do they have an on-line presence that's professional, are they working that presence that's professional are they working that presence are they networking?  But also they're looking to see if there are negative things out there.  I know personally it had to do with an intern we were looking at hiring and we found her on Facebook and made the decision no to hire her," says Kerlin.

She advises that everyone try to balance out their social, more liberal networking sites with a more professional tamed site like Linked-In.

"I heard the express one time, that it's sort of like after you throw feathers off the top of a mountain and try to pick them up you really can't do it," Kerlin said.

And it may be helpful if you if you Google yourself regularly to know exactly what the internet has to say about you.