When’s the last time you Googled yourself? For some, the results may not be so flattering. We’ve know that social media sites like Facebook and Twitter can affect your chances of getting (or keeping) a job, but did you know that your online presence can also affect whether you qualify for a loan or health insurance?
Your “likes,” friends, groups, etc. are all carefully collected and analyzed by third parties. While much of it is to gather consumer data for marketing, it can affect you as a professional and consumer. What you share on these platforms speaks volumes to others about your lifestyle, ability to be employed, and financial habits.
So what can you do about it? You can start by following these three tips:
Not too personal. This should go without saying, but so many social media users continue to over-share in posts and in pictures. Whether it’s pictures from your last wild birthday bash, or tweeting nasty things about your job. You may know that you’re responsible and well-intentioned, but unfortunately a bank or an employer won’t see it that way. Eliminate the personal details as much as possible, when sharing.
Your profile—only the basics. We spend endless hours tweaking our profiles with information, our whereabouts, downloading new apps—just so we can share with the world and make it easier for others to collect private information about us. Unless you’re trying to wow new clients with a portfolio and resume on LinkedIn, no one really needs to know that much about you. Keep your profile to the basics—a few professional pictures and some general information about yourself.
Use a privacy browser. Your browser also reveals tons of information about you. It keeps track of all the websites you’ve visited. While you can empty your cookies folder, a better option would be a privacy browser like Vidalia.
Remember, often less is more. Keeping your personal and professional lives separated becomes harder if you are a prolific sharer on various social media sites. Go to the wild party and enjoy it but don’t post pictures. Go on a trip, but share pictures once you are back keeping in mind that thieves are on the lookout and can possibly know that you are out of town, if your social media profiles are not private.
Keep some general questions in mind when posting, ‘Do my friends need to know this now? And ‘Is this something I can share later in a more personal setting?’
Do you have any other ways social media can hurt your reputation instead of helping it?