* Sharing your thoughts or photos for the world to see now is as easy as pressing a button, but even a seemingly harmless post can turn into a headache.
February 2021.- Facebook, the giant of social networks, has been part of our lives for exactly 17 years. Some of us still remember what the days without Facebook were like; while the current generation of young adults cannot imagine an era without this social platform. Considering that the lifespan of social media tends to be limited before entering a period of decline to finally fade into obscurity, staying as you have could be considered a major achievement.
In fact, Facebook has managed to establish itself as the reigning king of social media. It is widely used to connect with friends and family, watch videos, and share memes. However, beyond the obvious ways of use, it also functions as a kind of time capsule; something that people often overlook.
A key principle is that “what happens on the Internet, stays on the Internet”, possibly forever and for the whole world to see. If you don’t think about how you behave or what you share online, an error in judgment could come back to haunt you later in life. For example, it could condition your future career prospects if you have been involved in some of the undesirable behaviors that too often occur on the Internet, such as:
Take a minute before posting
The internet is littered with stories of people whose college admissions were canceled and job offers withdrawn, following an old or current post on social media. This continues to happen today, especially if you are applying for a very lucrative position: the more prestigious the job position and the company, the more complete the investigation process will be.
You should always think about what you post and how the content you share can change over time. A video of a joke that may seem funny at the time may turn out to be offensive or embarrassing after a few years, or maybe your favorite sports team performed poorly and you used obscene language to vent; This could leave a bad image about your temperament. Alternatively, you can share a meme that you find funny but will offend others. So a good rule of thumb would be: don’t share anything that you wouldn’t feel comfortable showing your grandmother.
HR specialists can thoroughly investigate potential candidates’ social media presence to look for red flags or questionable content that they can refer to during the interview process. It can be one of the types of posts we mentioned above or they can see that you are a fan or member of some dubious Facebook page or group that shares content that is offensive to some. Any of these scenarios could lead to you being discarded as a candidate in a selection process.
Be aware of how you comment
Many news and media websites allow you to access the comments section below articles using your Facebook account. This option is convenient since it avoids that the user has to register in each different site in which he wishes to join a discussion. These discussions in the comments section are often heated, especially those below articles or content related to hot or sensitive topics. And sometimes, even against our better judgment, we get carried away in arguments that are totally avoidable. Moods rise, certain words are spoken, comments are misinterpreted, and we have the ingredients for a perfect storm.
However, we are all human and sometimes we react impulsively and in ways that we may later regret. But even in the midst of a heated debate, it is unacceptable to start virtually harassing the other person (yes, it happens with adults too) by degrading, mocking, or even insulting them. To avoid falling for this, it is best to avoid comments entirely, but if you insist on commenting, take a deep breath and be as polite as possible when trying to convey your point of view. And like we said earlier, take a minute to think hard before hitting submit.
Privacy, privacy, privacy
This is rather a general advice that applies to all aspects of your digital life and not just the professional part. Since most of us have had a Facebook account for years, it would be appropriate to audit your profile once a year to assess your privacy and security. Start by seeing what information is available to the public if they search your profile and adjust accordingly. There is no need to share anything but the bare minimum with strangers. You never know who may be watching, and sharing too much could allow strangers to lurk.
Continue this process by auditing your posts: there is no need to have all your posts from past years visible to everyone. This also helps prevent potential attackers from getting a clear picture of you and your habits, as this information could be used against you in the future. Speaking of potential threat actors, also check your friends list and remove anyone you don’t know or don’t remember adding.
Mind your manners
It seems like Facebook is going nowhere anytime soon and that it will continue to be firmly ingrained in the lives of many of us. And since it works as a form of digital archive, it’s wise to reflect on the things we’ve already shared and the posts and photos we plan to share. You may not know how your comments and posts will be perceived in the future, but it’s always good to plan ahead, so your digital past doesn’t come back to haunt you.
Amer Owaida
https://www.welivesecurity.com/
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