Your digital persona matters when it comes to college admissions. If you're not already involved in the process, you ought to know that it's become sort of a competitive sport in it's own right. Parents and teens are doing everything they can to make sure that their application will stand out. In fact, the latest Kaplan survey of college admissions officers found that 66% said that an applicant's social media is FAIR GAME during the admissions process. What does that mean in practical terms for you/your teen? It means that you can no longer ignore the impact your teen's digital communication can have on their future.

A thoughtfully-built LinkedIn profile allows your teen to take control of their own digital footprint and craft the professional narrative they want adult decision-makers (like college admissions officers or employers) to see when they search for them online, which will happen.

Many teens and young adults view social media as a place to let loose and express themselves. But teenage brains don’t often consider that these actions might have unintended consequences. That said, here are my 8 rules for teens when it comes to free expression online

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