Tips for Posting Online

One would hope that I add something to the world- be it good, bad, or indifferent- Me

I have been writing a paper about how posting things on Facebook or other social-networking sites has caused administrators of colleges to review their policies and created an interesting ethical and legal debate. I won't go into to many details (unless you ask) but I will say that I think it's critical that universities own up to the responsibility to teach students how posting to these sites can negatively affect their lives.

So, in response to the paper I wrote, here are some suggestions to keep your internet persona safe:

1. NEVER post personal information such as address, phone, etc. You may think that only your friends can see it, but often their 'friends' can too. It's to risky!

2. Delete profiles from places you don't go. Remember when you checked out PerferctMatch and OKCupid when you broke up last...? Call these places or go on their sites are Remove your profiles. It's to easy to stalk people. Especially if you put up a picture!

3. Don't post with to much detail. Avoid using names of other people without their knowledge or permission. Don't use a name of a co-worker, especially when commenting negatively.

4. Google yourself. Find out what is being attributed to you, where your name comes up. Do an image search as well. It's fairly likely NOTHING will come, but just to be safe.

5. Careful with photos. Remember that other people can download the photos you post and save them to their computers. Which means at best they are using your work in something, at worst they are posting it all over the office or sending it to the boss.

6. Be careful with your affiliations. Putting on your profile that you are affiliated with a national organization makes you far more likely to run into trouble. There are hundreds of stories where people working at chain locations (Staples, Home Depot, etc.) have posted about their jobs and the higher ups (really high up) have fired them.

7. Be smart. Once it's written down it's always there. They say 'don't type angry.' Don't POST ANGRY is even MORE important!


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