The recent trend of connectivity through the Internet has served as a spark for the social media era, resulting in a number of social websites such as Xanga (social blogging site),MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and many others. Facebook specifically has become an everyday norm in the lives of most young adults. With the societal shift towards a digitally orientated lifestyle, there is an increased interaction between friends, family, and non-acquaintances via social networking sites like Facebook. As a result, the manner in which users portray themselves online becomes influential for new friends viewing their pages. Similarly, professional companies are now utilizing Facebook for marketing, promotions, and even recruiting. This becomes an issue, then, for young adults looking to launch their careers and are unaware of the way in which companies utilize Facebook. The purpose of this study was to identify how companies use Facebook and whether or not there is a “knowledge gap” between young adults and professionals. Upon learning if and how companies use Facebook, young adults can be informed on how to present themselves online so as to balance their social and professional online image. The results of the study identified a shifting trend towards companies using Facebook in the near future; as social networking merges together with professional networking, it becomes increasingly important to adopt a long-termed mindset. Cautionary tactics are recommended, such as adjusting privacy settings and removing inappropriate images
