The Dos and Don’ts of Social Media

We’ve talked before about how to leverage social media to connect with colleges, and today we want to dive a little deeper and share the advice we give to our students.

This is a hot topic in our modern world, as social media has become so ubiquitous that even potential employers utilize it to screen candidates. And don’t fool yourself into thinking that privacy settings make it impossible for colleges and employers to see what you’re posting. They can usually find a way around them. 

Do post images and text that reflect who you are. You might be tired of hearing about your “brand.” But these days, having a brand is a necessary evil. With so much awareness of how we present online, a brand is a way for you to curate a specific style for yourself, to present yourself the way you want to be seen. Remember, this extends beyond your visual aesthetic. What text are you posting? Are you engaging in social commentary? Are you engaging in a respectful and thoughtful way, or in a reactionary way? Impulsively shooting off a tweet can have disastrous consequences. 

Don’t post images or references to alcohol or drugs. We certainly aren’t promoting any substance use, but these substances are used by and accessible to high school and college students alike. It’s a fact. You might find yourself at a cool party with your friends. Have your fun. But don’t post pictures of the events that transpire. These images are not going to represent the best or most professional version of yourself. If you absolutely need the photos to someday remember the good times, put them in your password protected cloud and keep them to yourself. Your friends will also thank you later. Even if you are at a family party, don’t take pictures holding a disposable cup, especially if it’s a Solo cup. It doesn’t matter if a college or employer is wrong to assume the cup contains alcohol, they will, and you won’t have the opportunity to refute it. 

Do be intentional with who you follow. Have you ever heard the expression “You are the company that you keep?” The individuals or organizations you follow represent who you are because following is a form of showing support. Don’t follow people or organizations that post offensive content. And don’t follow offensive people or organizations as a joke for the same reasons. People, including employers, can see who you are following and might make judgements about you that may not be accurate or even fair. 

Don’t post images or texts that can be deemed insensitive or offensive. The truth is that people lose their jobs for posting this kind of material. We see it happen all the time: someone goes on a racist rant, people boycott the company they work for, and the person loses their job. If you don’t know what we are talking about, Google this. You’ll find no shortage of examples. It can be hard to know what might be insensitive because our culture is always changing. Which brings us to our next point…

Do comb through your social media accounts regularly and delete old posts. As we just said, culture is always changing, and so are you. You might post something one day and a year or two later your opinion might change. Delete the post. You’ve seen celebrities or politicians get called out for something they posted 5 or 10 years ago that makes them look bad. The same goes for regular people on a daily basis. You might think a joke is funny now, but the same joke might be considered offensive in a few years. So make sure what you’ve posted in the past holds up to today’s standards. If it doesn’t or if you’re unsure, just delete the post and move on.

Don’t spend too much time on social media. It’s okay to scroll through on your lunch break or when you get home. But make sure you don’t become addicted to it. It’s easy to lose hours scrolling through reels or liking photos, but make sure your homework gets done. And whatever you do, don’t post during work hours. The last thing you want is for your boss to see you posted a reel at 10:30 am from your desk while you were supposed to be working on a big proposal. 

These are just a few suggestions. Social media is a major part of our culture and we want to make sure you’re using it to help yourself succeed. We don’t want it to lead to your downfall. So, at the end of the day, just make sure you are using common sense before you post. Think of it this way: If you wouldn’t want your elderly grandmother to see the post, don’t post it. 

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