Everything posted in a public domain online is fair game.

The new commenting policy using Facebook on QUChronicle.com is no exception. Whether commenting on a private or public Facebook account, comments are still in a public forum on the Chronicle website.

Comments on articles can be republished at the discretion of the editorial board. These comments should always relate to the article’s topic.

With the new commenting policy, every post now has a full name and face attached. The Chronicle can and will republish any comments relevant to the original article discussed.

Not only are comments on the Chronicle website public, but everything posted on Facebook is available for public consumption. Facebook statuses, posts and photos are public. Once any post is made available on Facebook, Facebook owns it. Anything posted to a Facebook account – public or private, on the Chronicle’s page or not – is fair game to be published.

A flashback to freshman orientation will remind QU upperclassmen of the gathering and presentation about cyber safety. Compromising pictures and posts were illuminated onto a projection for the entire grade to see. Because the post was published on Facebook, the information becomes public domain.

It is becoming easier for future employers to use Facebook to track potential employees. Facebook can be a reason someone is not hired. It can also be used as an excuse to dismiss or fire an employee.

Take Facebook and other social media sites more seriously. Everything posted online is public and will be around forever.

As a reminder, comments posted on QUChronicle.com that are threatening, harassing or libelous toward writers, photographers or other commenters will not be tolerated. Any comment attacking a person’s gender, race, ethnicity, class, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disabilities is completely unacceptable and will be removed.