Whether students use it to chat with friends, get the scoop on the class they skipped or talk to cute girls and guys, there is no question that Thefacebook, the Internet college directory, has taken MSU by storm.

Rachel Ainslie, a Lyman Briggs sophomore, uses Thefacebook (msu.thefacebook.com/) to keep in touch with acquaintances from high school and check in with people at MSU. She became a member after her friend urged her to join.

"You can put as much into (it) or as little as you want," she said about Thefacebook's profile feature. "It's a way to communicate and get information about classes."

For those not in the know, Thefacebook allows current students and alumni from participating universities and colleges to search for friends at different schools or people at the same school who share their interests.

Thefacebook was created by Mark Zuckerberg, a student at Harvard University who wanted to provide students with more control over their personal information and create an online forum for people at school, said Thefacebook spokesman Chris Hughes.

When students find someone they would like to have as a "friend" they send a request, which then can be confirmed, rejected or ignored.

Students can only access the profiles of people from their school and can only leave notes on the "message board" if they are confirmed as a friend.

More than 280 schools participate in Thefacebook.

Jen Lilly, a predental sophomore, said Thefacebook has augmented her social life because it allows her to learn about people she sees around campus.

"Thefacebook makes me more likely to talk with acquaintances," Lilly said. "It makes me more apt to talk to people in classes if I know they recognize me, too."

Students can list the classes they are taking and then become linked in a group to other people who are in the same class.

But Edwin Darrell, residence life director of Case Hall, said Thefacebook could take a toll on students' academics and personal interaction. He said he knows of several students who spend at least 2-3 hours a day on Thefacebook.

"It's a great way for mentors to advertise programs and a way to meet new people, but it shouldn't be the sole source," Darrell said. "The Internet can be a cop out for face-to-face communication."

Ryan Abbott said the Internet directory does not serve as a good basis of communication and he prefers ConnectU.com, which provides more options, including chat forums.

Abbott, a computer science junior, is a member of Thefacebook, but said the Web site is boring and immature.

"A lot of people are still stuck in high school and have popularity issues - all they do is say 'I have more friends than you,'" he said.

Abbott, who knows people who have been harassed and flirted with via Thefacebook, said he also is aware of the risks involved and would never consider meeting in person with someone he knows only through the Internet.

MSU police Detective Steve Beard said students should be careful to avoid providing personal information on any Internet forum. Beard said he discourages people from meeting with Internet friends.

"Thefacebook has no requirement as whose picture you post, and you never know 100 percent if that's the true person you will meet," he said.

To be a member on Thefacebook, people have to attend or have attended a higher education institution but can change available information such as their names, pictures and place of residence once they join.

Beard encourages caution when posting information that could help identify individual students on Thefacebook.

Thefacebook allows students to decide what information is shared over the Internet - a key feature of the site, Hughes said. It also provides students with the ability to block certain members from accessing their profiles if they have experienced harassment.

Paige Holben, a prenursing sophomore, said the localization Thefacebook offers lends a sense of security when talking with strangers online.

"It's the same concern with online chatting - I'd be worried about stories like kidnapping," she said.

Hughes said Thefacebook is meant mostly for communication with friends, and he has not received complaints about problems with meeting new people through the site.

Darrell said students should be aware that faculty and staff at MSU can join Thefacebook as well, which might provide them with the motivation to act appropriately.