Social
media now sits at the very heart of our daily routines. But while it’s a great
way to keep in touch, share our feelings with friends and loved ones, and stay
up to date with news and current affairs (gossip to you and me!), what you post
online can really harm your chances of getting your next job. Here are things
that you shouldn’t be doing on social media:
1. Complain about your current job
Don’t like your job or your boss? Keep it
offline: personal rants on social media against an individual or a company are
not professional, or acceptable, and should be avoided at all times. If you
have a genuine complaint always use the official avenues and procedures.
2. Focus on the negative
Posting negative thoughts or comments all the
time will make you come across as a negative person, and nobody wants to work
with one of those, do they?
3. Lie
If you are caught telling lies, whether online or
offline, no one will believe anything else you have to say. And chances are
they will never trust you again either. As for employers, if you’ve lied on
your profile you probably don’t have the skills or qualifications to do the
job. You’ll get found out eventually, and if you do you’ll probably end up
losing your job, so lying is certainly not worth it.
4. Post photos doing something you’re
ashamed of the day after
While it’s OK to have fun, it should never affect
your ability to do a job, and to do it to the best of your abilities. So any
picture that shows you’re not in control, or worse still, doing something
illegal, should never be shared, regardless of how locked down your Facebook
account is. They always have a habit of escaping. If you’re not comfortable
with anyone and everyone seeing those pictures then don’t post them in the
first place.
5. Anything You May Regret Later
You
may think this last one is a cop-out because it’s a blanket catch-all for
anything not yet covered, but if there’s one rule that you live by on social
media, let it be this one: never post anything that you wouldn’t want the
whole world to see.
FAQ; how do I delete all of my tweets
from last year
The
one thing that everyone should know about the Internet is that once something
is available to the public, its pretty much impossible to remove completely. Your
photos, videos, and posts? There’s no way to know who’s seen it, who’s saved
it, and who’s sharing it with someone else.
So
if you post something today and regret it two years down the road, you may be
able to delete it from your account, but it can never be completely erased.
Even modes of self destruct communication aren’t perfect in this
regard. Never post or share anything that you aren’t 100% behind.
6. Say things that you wouldn’t repeat in
person
Would you be happy to repeat what you have just posted
on Twitter out loud, to your grandma? If the answer is no, don’t post it.
Always use your common sense: if you’re not prepared to say it in person, don’t
say it virtually either.
Be
careful what you share on social media because you never know when
something could come back and ruin your life. Even the most innocent and
well-intentioned posts could be used against you in ways you never thought possible. And
we’re not just talking about websites can track you with Ads and use that
information to build behavioral profile on you. A lot of people worry about
how evil corporations are “stealing” our data, but the sad truth is that you
and I freely give away more than we think do.
You’d
be shocked if you knew what Facebook knows about you just from your posts and
comments. So before you share anything else on social media, here’s what you
should never share if you value your privacy and safety.
7. When you are on vacation
After
you’ve managed to save money for a vacation package and have started plannig your next big adventure in life, you may feel tempted
to express your excitement through social media. Other people brag about their
vacations all the time, so you can too, right?
Well,
you may want to reconsider as it may not be the smartest thing to tell the
world when you’re going on vacation and when you’re coming back. You never know
who might see your posts and use that information to plan a break-in and steal
everything you own.
If
you really want to share your trip, save it for when you get back. Rather than
uploading your photos in real-time, wait until you’re safe at home and upload
everything at once. It’s less exciting, I know, but it’s also safer.
And
this advice doesn’t just hold for vacations. Think twice before you announce
that you’re going out to dinner or staying over at a friend’s. Paranoid? Maybe,
but you never know.
8. Geolocation check-ins
We
all know that smartphones can track our GPS coordinates, but did you know that
your browser can also track where you are? That’s how social networks like
Twitter and Facebook are able to know where you are when you post new tweets or
status updates. This is called geolocation.
The
thing is, malicious individuals can use your geolocation information to track
you down and stalk you. Or they can use it to collect even more personal data and release it publicly . Do
you really want your home location on the Internet where everyone can see?
By
extension, you should never give out your physical address or phone numbers
through social media, even if you think the communication method is private.
Data breaches and account hackers are all too common these days. And
lastly, avoid using the check-in feature that some social apps provide. It might
seem cool to let your friends and family know where you are at any given time,
but I’m not convinced that the risks are worth it.
9. Privileged inside Information
It’s
not uncommon for people on social media to accidentally post private
information through public channels, and most of the time the repercussions are
minor, but you have to be particularly careful when that information is
business related.
For example, if you signed a Non-Disclosure
Agreement (also known as a Confidentiality Agreement), it doesn’t only apply to
formal modes of communication. Spilling confidential details on social media
even accidentally is not something you want to be caught doing.
The same holds true if you’re privy to inside
information at work: who’s going to be laid off next week, what kind of
strategy your company will have for the New Year, etc. If you aren’t authorized
to share it, you really can’t share it. Otherwise you may find yourself in
legal trouble.
10. Self-Incriminating
Evidence
Not
everything you see on social media is legal. And while it’s one thing to get
fined or fired over a joke or incendiary comment, it’s something else entirely
to break the law and leave the evidence on your account for all to see.
E.g. Last night I drove home drunk like
a dumbass and ran over a rabbit.
You
probably won’t see any truly heinous crimes on Facebook or Twitter, but it’s
not hard to find incidents where people laugh about driving drunk or taking
selfies while on the highway. And there are also people who take photos of their
marijuana stashes, their illegal firearms, and even cash that they’ve stolen.
Do
everyone, including yourself, a favor by never posting anything like that on social media. At best,
you’ll get a few Likes and maybe some credibility among your friends, but at
worst, you could find yourself in jail or prison.
11. Expensive New Purchases
Here’s
another thing that people love to brag about on social media: shiny new toys!
Whether you just got a new phone, tablet, laptop, car,
house, or whatever else, maybe you’re so excited that you can’t help but post
it online. But there are two reasons why you shouldn’t do that.
The
first reason is that these kinds of posts contribute to a massive problem that
affects most social networks, which is the fact that social media amplifies our feelings of insecurities and failure . When you post
highlights from your life, it inadvertently causes some to fill with envy and
possibly even resentment.
The
second reason is more practical: when you tell the world that you have a shiny
new toy, some people may want to steal it from you or take advantage of you in
some way. An extreme case would be announcing that you won the lottery, and you
know how that would go, don’t you?
As
a general rule of thumb, dont show case things like electronics and jewellery,
especially if your friends are the kind that you don’t trust 100%.
12. Giving Personal Advice
We’ve
all seen it before: people who are sick and ask for home remedy tips on
Facebook, or people who have gotten themselves into a bind and tweet for
possible legal advice. Both are extremely common on sites like Reddit as
well.
But
no matter how tempted you might be, and no matter how sure of yourself you
might be, it’s in everyone’s best interest, including your own, that you don’t
give medical or legal advice to people over social media. This is true even if
you’re a doctor or lawyer.
The
key point is that you simply don’t know all of the facts. If someone is sick or
in trouble, they should get professional help. This also applies to advice on
exercise, weight loss, diet, finance, relationships, etc. Best
to stay quiet on all of that.
13. Scams, Invites, and Giveaways
Social
networks are prime targets for things like giveaways and contests, mainly
because it’s so darn easy to click “Share” and not think twice about it.
However, if that describes you, then you may want to pump your brakes and
reconsider.
First
of all, if you’re constantly sharing giveaways, contests, and invites to
Facebook games, there’s a good chance that you’re annoying every one of your
friends (at least the ones who haven’t yet blocked you). It’s spammy at best,
shady at worst.
But
more so than that, some these so-called giveaways and contests are actually scams in disguise, and you could unknowingly be
spreading malware or tricking people into giving away sensitive data. To be on
the safe side, you should be wary of any and all of these “share me” events
Things Students Should Never Do on Social Media
The
last thing young people want is another set of rules. But these days, social
media comes with great responsibility, whether you're just starting high school
or finishing up college.
The
fact is, irresponsible social media conduct could potentially ruin your
education and negatively impact your career, not to mention hurt others in the
process. (And we are not just talking kids, either.) But most of those consequences are
preventable, often with just a little foresight.
I've
pinpointed social media mistakes that students should avoid at all costs,
because after all, it's never as simple as "be responsible." And it's
never as finite as "don't friend your teacher on Facebook." Social
media circumstances are nuanced and vary by situation, school and user.
1. Post Illegal Activities
Granted,
high school and college students experiment with many activities and
substances. But the second you post a video of last weekend's smoking weed
session with friends, you become vulnerable not only for school expulsion but
also for criminal prosecution; in other words, consequences that affect the
rest of your life. Even if your profile is set to private, a friend can always
download and save incriminating photos that he or the authorities can use
against you in the future.
Once
or twice per year, perform a thorough review of the information and content
accessible on your social media profiles. That way, you'll be able to locate
and remove that photo of your underage keg stand before you apply for your next
job
Bullying
is one of the most serious problems among youth today. Vicious treatment and
hateful words between youth often lead to violence, suicide, depression and
discrimination among the youth.
When
a student turns to social media, blogs or virtually any online space as a forum
for hurtful speech, the risks are unmeasurable. Not only does one ruin their
reputation, but also serious criminal prosecution.
3. Trash Your Teachers
Bullying
doesn't just apply to student-to-student interactions. Students who speak
poorly of their teachers (or post embarrassing photos of them) run a huge risk,
too. After all, your instructors have a right to privacy and respect.
You
should even be wary of school or teacher-related posts you think are harmless,
you never know whose feelings you've accidentally hurt.
Dan Farkas, instructor of strategic communication at Ohio University, describes
a scenario gone wrong. "I had several students tweet with excitement when
I cancelled a class, ready to have a slightly easier Monday," he says.
"What they didn’t know was that I cancelled class to take my wife to the
emergency room. It still makes my blood boil."
The
same goes for institutions or persons of authority in general, not just
teachers. High school seniors should be careful not to negatively post about
specific colleges or geographical areas, these days, admissions officers
thoroughly investigate the social media activity and personalities of
applicants. One negative tweet could seal the fate of your college acceptance.
4. Threaten Violence
Threatening
a person or group of people in any situation is unbelievably serious. Even
posting an anonymous, empty threat to an obscure online group full of strangers
will raise red flags. And as soon as authorities have located a threat, they
have the right to investigate, and they will.
In
other words, social media is not the place to vent your frustrations and
violent thoughts. Talk to a counselor about your concerns.
5. Unprofessional Public Profiles
Whether you're a high school student applying to flip
burgers at a local diner or a recent university grad looking to land a career,
your social media presence needs to reflect responsibility.
"While searching for a job, I made sure to take down
any questionable photos from my college days," says recent James Madison
University graduate, Christine Borkowski. "I took every red cup I could
spot off my Facebook. It may seem a little extreme, but Facebook offers the
'Download' option of each photo." That way, she could save any photo she
removed from the social network.
Whether
it's a Google search or a social media examination, chances are a company is
looking into your history. And sometimes, even a completely private social
media profile sets off red flags for employers. In today's age of transparency,
a professional (albeit public) profile is the ideal.
6. Never Rely on Privacy Settings 100%
Although
most major social networks update you with privacy improvements, the changes
are often too frequent to follow and can get complicated. However diligently
you may protect your social media identity, it's best to assume anything you
post is fair game, potentially seen by your school, by your parents and by
strangers.
"Students
should never rely on privacy settings over good judgment," says Andrew
Moravick, social media specialist at SnapApp. "If you
don't want something to be seen, don't post it on the Internet."
7. Post Emotionally
We've
all said and done things we regret. It's human nature to react without thinking
through the consequences. However, whenever possible, take a moment to imagine
how your social media posts affect the feelings, safety and well-being of those
around you, even your worst enemies. Posting an angry tweet in the heat of the
moment may feel cathartic, but the momentary pleasure you get from writing it
isn't worth the potential harm it could create. Take a moment to breathe, think
and reboot.
What
is it about social media that brings out the worst in people?
That crude joke about your accounting supervisor or the doctored picture of the
CEO at a party? They might seem funny at the time, but it's easy to forget how
social media posts can live in infamy forever and become part of an eternal
archive.
8. Complaining about a specific person
Save
that @ symbol for requests, promotional efforts, or an acclamation. Don't call
someone out in public; at least do it privately and, preferably, in the real
world.
9. Posting a picture without permission
Of
course, there is outright photo theft and not including proper credit for an
image. That's obviously wrong. Before you post a picture of a business
associate at a party or in an awkward pose, get permission first.
10. Tagging someone in an embarrassing photo
Facebook
lets you approve tagging before it appears on your feed, but many people forget
to enable that feature. Tagging an embarrassing photo is like pinning a
"kick me" sign to someone at a party.
11. Writing a negative post about a non-public figure
Have
something to say about a celebrity? That's fine--celebrities are (mostly) fair
game in social media posts, and they'll never see it anyway. Are you writing up
a scathing article about a business associate who sits in the next building
over? That can get you into serious trouble.
12. Making any sexual references
Do
you think that sexual joke a coworker told you over coffee is funny? It's
tempting to post it on LinkedIn for everyone to see. Don't do it. Remember that
you are in a public forum, and it's easy to misconstrue a crude joke.
13. Racial slurs
Social
media is a wonderful place to share your opinions, and it's even OK to get political
or even controversial at times. Any racial slur is 100% wrong, whether it is in
person at the office or in a forum like Facebook or Twitter.
14. Doctoring a photo
OK,
it was funny in middle school, but doctoring a photo and posting it on social
media is not a good idea in business circles. Once again, there's no way to
know if the person you are "doctoring" will think those bunny ears
are funny or insulting. And, there's no way to control how it is forwarded.
15. Death threats
It's
amazing how often this happens. It has happened to me. Keep in mind that it's
illegal to make serious, repeated threats to hurt someone in an online forum.
16. Changing the meaning of a tweet when you retweet it
This
one might seem harmless, but it's one that can cause people stress. Change a
retweet to stay within 140-characters, sure, but don't change the meaning.
17. Posting a private comment made in person
If
a co-worker tells you something about the boss or related to some private plans
in the company, keep it to yourself. Posting about it on social media is a
betrayal of confidence.
18. Representing an original photo as your own
Apart
from the legal and ethical issues, it's all too easy to post a photo on social
media as though it’s your own.. Make sure you let people know who took the
photo and give proper credit. Or at least avoid claiming you are the original
photographer.
19. Harassment
There's
a reason the term "troll" came into existence. When someone comments
rudely on everything you do on social media, that's harassment.
20. Swearing
That's
right--it's a form of social cruelty, depending on who is reading your post and
the context in which you are posting. The best approach? Just save the
profanity for an environment where it is not held in perpetuity for any reader
to see years from now.
21. Apologizing to a specific person
This
one just looks lame. Apologies are fine when they are in person or even by
email or Direct Message. As a public post, it looks like a cop-out and that you
didn't take the time to do it in person.
22. Arguing
When
you post one comment in disagreement, it's voicing your opinion. When you post
a rebuttal, it looks like you are defending yourself. When you argue back and
forth, everyone thinks you are using up precious bandwidth. Best to leave it to
private communications.
Be
Careful What You Do on Social Media
If
you’re a heavy user of social media and this information scared you, good. The
truth is that we really can't trust social media and even the smallest
mistakes, which may seem fine at the time, can have terrible consequences when
you least expect it. So, be careful
