katieSAs a young woman in today’s society, I have faced the harsh truth that my social media use may be a little too social, if you get what I mean. I know I am not alone and, in fact, I know that almost everyone I know is guilty of this as well. But with the beginning of a new chapter coming upon most people in my generation, we must realize just what we are putting out on social media and how it will affect us. Whether you’re trying to get into your dream school, attempting to nail your internship or even start a new career, it is important that the one thing standing in your way is not yourself.

No One Wants a Negative Nancy

We’ve all been there: you’ve had a horrible day and honestly the only way to make it even a little bit better is to go on a Twitter rant about how much you hate everyone and how stupid everyone and everything is. In all honesty, we know this isn’t making our day better. And there is a good chance that a future employer or school administrator will come across your rant. If you’re having a horrible day and feel the need to rant about it, try writing it in a journal or venting to a friend. This is a much better and effective way to deal with the stress of a rough day, and it will definitely make your social media platform of choice a much happier place.

Social Media Web Signs On Tags

Photo Awareness

The other way your social media use could come back to bite you is via pictures. Whether its that picture of you after one too many at happy hour, or a semi-scandalous picture of you at that pool party, it is important to pay attention to the message you are sending out to the people viewing your profiles. Even if, at first glance, you think it is okay, it’s kind of a rule that if you wouldn’t want to show it to your grandmother, you probably should take it down.

Although it is argued that social media should be a way for people to be themselves and not be judged for what they post, it is important to realize that your Facebook profile, Twitter feed and Instagram are a direct reflection of you! When the world looks at these profiles, they receive intimate insight into your life. So when future employers or school administrators get a hold of social media accounts, it allows them to see who they are really considering. Keeping scandalous images and negative thoughts off of social media will help you to appear ever-positive and well put together.

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