Social media gives us the opportunity to tell the world who we are and show ourselves in the way we want to be seen.

Think about what you post and ask yourself, “what does this photo/text/tweet, etc. say about me?” In the internet age, perception is reality and you aren’t going to get a chance to explain yourself or your post to all the people who see your post. They will never know what you posted was a meant as a joke or a misspelling or auto-correct led to a completely different post than what you originally intended it to be.

Social media gives us the opportunity to tell the world who we are and show ourselves in the way we want to be seen.

Think about what you post and ask yourself, “what does this photo/text/tweet, etc. say about me?” In the internet age, perception is reality and you aren’t going to get a chance to explain yourself or your post to all the people who see your post. They will never know what you posted was a meant as a joke or a misspelling or auto-correct led to a completely different post than what you originally intended it to be.

A graphic representation describing how kids use different social media platforms.

Don't Let Your Online Presence Ruin Your Future

Before social media and the internet became commonplace, it was generally thought that celebrities, musicians and prominent figures were the only ones who needed to protect their image and public perception. However, with billions of people from around the world creating accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, privacy is no longer what it once seemed.

When you post publicly you are not only sharing your life's intimate details with friends, family members and peers, but also the entire world--millions of potential viewers. With the growing trend of students and athletes losing out on college scholarship opportunities along with individuals finding themselves without employment due to social media woes, understanding how to protect your own online presence and digital reputation is a must.