UNCW professor offers tips for students searching for roommates online

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Thousands of UNCW students are preparing for the start of the fall semester, and many are seeking roommates.

While some can find roommates through the university, others use online sources, including posting on several Facebook pages, such as the UNCW Roommate Search page.

It allows students to make posts where they share photos and information about themselves, from hobbies to even the names of their pets.

Dr. Ulku Clark is a UNCW professor of cybersecurity.

She said students should be more careful about what they share online.

“Personally, if it is possible, post anonymously so if you are doing that, you are not revealing a lot of information about yourself,” Clark said. “It would be better if they pay attention to privacy. Reveal as little information as possible about them, you know personal information.”

Some students, like rising junior Mary Cooper, have found roommates through Facebook.

Cooper said she wasn’t too worried about who might see her information, due to searching on specific pages.

“I think that’s definitely something I’m always aware about, but I think I specifically wanted to stick to the UNCW girls roommate, so I felt more safe with it just being a girl’s community,” Cooper said.

Senior Joshua Harvey said it’s important to remember, the internet is forever.

“You think that if you delete it from your phone, it’s not going to be deleted,” Harvey said. “Someone could easily screenshot it. So I would highly advise all these young adults, men and female, to not just put all their information out online because it’s very easy to find people’s information.”

Dr. Clark added that if you are searching for a roommate, it’s best to only post nondescript photos of your apartment or living space, along with general information about yourself that is not too specific.