Colleges and businesses are watching you – digitally speaking.
Many teens are tired of hearing parents and teachers reminding them to pause before you post or think before you send a text.
They may be tired of hearing it, but that doesn’t mean we are going to stop preaching it, since it is imperative that not only youth pause before publishing anything in cyberspace — grown-ups need to start heeding this same advice.
Majority of schools and businesses search you online
There was a survey in 2017 by Career Builders that said employers eliminated fifty-four percent of potential applicants due to their social media behavior. And we’ve seen that the risks of a careless post or reckless tweet can be costly: some 75 percent of colleges preview a student’s online conduct prior to considering them for acceptance.
Some of these people already graduated college. These applicants can be young adults to possibly parents. No one is immune to being disqualified from a job interview for their actions on social media.
This is why it is important that teens know and understand that every click and post they do has meaning and potential consequences connected to them.
At this point, teens are also aware that college admissions are screening social media behavior, it’s not strictly about what they are posting online.
A New York Times article put this in perspective with the headline alone, They Loved Your GPA Until They Saw Your Tweets.
Be proactive
Let’s keep in mind that we can never give up on the mantra of think before you send a text and pause before you post, however we need to also review our overall conduct online:
- Be mindful of what you post on others social media sites, as well as your own.
Keep private and personal matters offline, or use private messages, however never assume they will stay private.
- Be careful of your tone. Never use all caps – NEVER. Typing in all caps is considered yelling or screaming digitally – and there is no reason for this to be done online. If you feel the need to do this, it is probably time for you to take a 24-hour reprieve from all digital devices.
- Be emphatic to others on social media, especially if you notice someone that is being harassed online. Be the person that is the upstander.
- Be interactive in positive ways and engaging in social networking groups that interest you. Especially if you are applying for scholarships, recruiters will admire your passion in your interests. For example Facebook has a variety of groups that people join with similar interests.
A final thought that some teens may not like, there is an old cliché, you are who you surround yourself with. Have you thought about de-cluttering your virtual friends list?
Keep in mind, especially on social media, it’s not about quantity, it’s about quality. Your social media matters, not only today – but it will continue to matter for a long time.
Social Assurity
Does your teen need a social media coach? Social Assurity has been helping students and their parents understand the importance of using social media for their future. Learn more – visit their site today.
