In a presidential election year, it's not only status updates and new photos being posted on Facebook pages.
Members are also using the site to share how they feel about the candidates and issues, something that Marietta College's career center director Hilles Hughes says can be risky.
"You just have to be careful," Hughes said. "Most employers don't have a political mission and politics isn't supposed to be part of a hiring decision, but if you put that information out there, you lose control of how the audience is going to deal with that information."
Marietta resident Jordan Lockhart, 17, said she doesn't think putting political posts on social media websites is a smart thing to do.
"I don't think it's a good idea - you don't know who is looking at your Facebook," she said, noting that a potential employer might frown upon such a thing being shared on the Internet.
But according to a survey on www.allfacebook.com, 51 percent of social media users have posted political messages on their Facebook wall.
Fact Box
Facebook and politics:
51 percent of social media users have posted political messages on their Facebook wall.
36 percent have changed their mind on an issue based on the political content a friend posted on social media.
49 percent of social media users follow both local and national politics.
Source: www.allfacebook.com
The survey also indicates 36 percent have changed their mind on an issue based on the political content a friend posted on social media.
Lowell resident Josh Holbert, 30, said he has posted his political views on Facebook and he never worries about how it affects others or what they may think of his opinion.
"Facebook is a place where you can express your feelings and it's a place where you can vent and share your frustrations with politicians," Holbert said.
The website socialbakers.com is tracking how popular the candidates are among Facebook users by closely following how many people are engaged with each candidate's page each week, as well as how many "fans" each candidate is gaining.
The website is also tracking the rate at which candidate commentary continues between Facebook users.
Mineral Wells, W.Va. resident Taylor Addis said he does not post his political views on Facebook, but he doesn't take issue with those who do.
"I'm not going to rag on anybody just because they posted something on Facebook about their political opinions," said Addis, 21.
Vincent resident Matt Helm, 18, said he thinks it's a good thing for a person to share on Facebook how they feel about a political topic.
"Especially if you're standing up for a cause," he said.
Helm noted that he is studying political science, with hopes of working for the United Nations.
Sonnie Brown, also of Vincent, said she has seen posts on Facebook in which people share their political views but it's not something she ever does.
"Sometimes I read them and I think, 'I wouldn't have said that - it might offend others,'" said Brown, 19. "I don't think people think before they post."
Hughes said Facebook posts that are too one-sided can be especially harmful.
"Even if the employer agrees with the political view...the employer may think, 'Do we want someone who is so one-sided about something to work in our office?'" she said.
Hughes said that could send a signal to a potential employer that he or she will have difficulty interacting or working with others who have differing opinions, not on political issues, but day-to-day work issues.
