How To: Social Media

Social media can be used for more than entertainment. Before using social media, you should know how it can harm or help you. For this post we will be looking at Facebook in particular. So lets talk about how to keep your digital footprint clean. What is a digital footprint you ask? The short video below answers your question in easy to understand language. 1

Hopefully now you know why it is so important that you are cautious about your digital footprint. What you post can get you in serious trouble. A 19-year-old was arrested in 2013 for posting a status that said "I think Ima shoot up a kindergarten / And watch the blood of the innocent rain down/ And eat the beating heart of one of them." 2 He meant it to be sarcastic but the cops do not care. Or you could be like this girl below and have your card information stolen. 3

Your post can also hurt someone else. Teens have killed themselves over what bullies post one Facebook. You might find it funny but to them it hurts. Finally, your post can get you fired. If you have a photo or post that your employer, or the person sighing you doesn't like, you are out of a job. Many companies say the first thing they do in the hiring process is Google people. So you say you will "clean up" your Facebook before you send out your resume. But what you delete is never really gone. 

Facebook is also bad for your life. You miss things when you are looking at your phone screen all the time. I saw the video below a few months ago and found it really eyeopening on the impact your phone has. 4 The ironic thing is that I saw it on Facebook. 

Now that you know what not to do, go put it into action. Next time you see someone using Facebook poorly I guarantee your face will look like Woody's. 5 Don't forget to keep your digital footprint picture perfect!

Courtney

1."Digital Footprint." Video. Common Sense, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. <https://www.commonsensemedia.org/videos/digital-footprint#>.

2.Shontell, Alyson. "7 People Who Were Arrested Because Of Something They Wrote On Facebook." Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 09 July 2013. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. <http://www.businessinsider.com/people-arrested-for-facebook-posts-2013-7?op=1>.

3. "19 Incredibly Stupid Facebook Post." Pulptastic. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fpulptastic.com%2Fstupid-facebook-posts%2F>.

4.Sheridan, Caroline. "This Is A Video EVERYONE Needs To See. For The First Time In My Life, I’m Speechless." PetFlow.com Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. <http://blog.petflow.com/a-video-everyone-needs-to-see/>.

5.Calderon, Arielle. "22 Really Stupid Facebook Post." Buzzfeed. N.p., 25 Nov. 2012. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2Fnewu1085%2F22-really-stupid-facebook-posts-654m>.