NC State freshmen get warning about social media

Putting too much information online can open students up to stalkers and burglaries, university Police Maj. Jon Barnwell said. He also advises students against sharing their locations and friending people they don’t know.

“If it's somebody you haven't known personally and known face-to-face, you don't need to friend them,” he said.

Students should also check privacy settings on websites like Facebook.

"It is a great way to stay connected with friends and family. It's also an arena where you have predators out there," Barnwell said. 

Taylor Springs, an incoming freshman at N.C. State, relies on Facebook to keep up with friends. 

"You find out what games people are going to, where certain parties are," she said. 

Springs' father, Jack Springs, said he is keeping a close eye on her Facebook page and who she is friending. 

"If you run with good people, good things happen. If you run with bad people, bad things happen," Jack Springs said. 

Jack Springs said he isn't worried about his daughter's behavior, and she doesn't mind having her parents as Facebook friends. 

"It makes me feel more safe because they're looking at it. They know where I'm at," Taylor Springs said.