Social media and technology allow us to get information and stay connected constantly but now more than ever the digital footprint we leave has a lasting impact on all ages and stages of life.
Over the weekend I was talking to a friend whose husband is a middle school principal and son happens to be in 5th grade just like Emily. In our conversation about our soon-to-be middle schoolers and social media, she shared how social media platforms are allowing administrators to catch kids who are acting in unsavory ways. Kids snapping photos of each other vandalizing school property and posting them to their Instagram accounts serve an easy way for administrators to hold students accountable for their actions.
As adults, we know that 79% of college admissions and job recruiters are looking at our online profiles when considering applicants but recent Microsoft research shows that only 19% of people take steps to manage their online reputation. As we live more of our lives online, Microsoft is encouraging us to #Do1Thing to take charge of your online reputation at Microsoft.com/SaferOnline.
Following their Safer Internet Day this past February that was about taking action to be safer online, Microsoft is parents and kids to do these 4 things to learn more about managing our digital reputations so you don’t suffer from post remorse, oversharing, or reveal more than you should with the hashtags you use.
- Take the Which social media cliché are you?! Quiz and find out who in your family is #HashtagHyper, a Click-Collector, or a One-Upper, and what they can do to ensure their social habits don’t cause harm to their online reputation. Share your results with your kids and discuss them to encourage them to be more aware their interactions online.
- Watch the It’s your social personality video below and then share it with friends and loved one to help them understand the impact of their online behavior.
- Learn how to Take Charge of Your Online Reputation thanks to the free printable PDF full of lots of helpful tips for kids of all ages and even adults.
- Work to clean up your social media profiles using Microsoft’s tips and read what others are doing around the world as part of #Do1Thing.
Okay, kids posting the pictures and getting caught. Wow!
But, yes, kids have to really be on the ball and know what they can and can’t post because it has an impact. My husband’s employer does a social media check before they hire people, too!
I remember my middle school principal friend sharing the kinds of drama he’d be faced with on Monday morning thanks to things unfolding on Facebook throughout the weekend but was fascinated to hear that Instagram is a way administrators can truly make kids accountable because they can’t deny what’s posted to their accounts!
Great tips for kids and parents! Social media forces us all to be more mindful of how we present ourselves – and these are helpful suggestions for getting ahead of potential long-term problems. Thanks!
Thanks Kimberly! Indeed social media teaches us to be mindful but also to set a good example and the importance of talking to our kids about what is and isn’t ok.
I hope that I am leaving a good digital footprint but I haven’t given it a whole heck of a lot of thought. I know that I never post embarrassing photos of the family online. Everyone has to look good in my photos.
So important to make sure that we look good online and do not compromise our reputation by sharing too much of our personal thoughts and pictures. We all need to be careful about this.