Your digital footprint is becoming a bigger concern for most people today, especially for young people. The content you post or content that is posted about you can have a major impact on your future opportunities. 

A lot of content we post online we do without a second thought and without reflection of how that content will age over time.  In the 2016 Canadian Federal election, my colleague Jean Giroux and I found 38 examples of old social media posts causing people running for MP to have to resign or being asked to resign.  Some of the posts that were in question were up to 10 years old.  If you think about some of the things you have said or done ten years ago it may cause you to cringe, now think about how you would feel if those things were posted online for everyone to see. This problem compounds when you are younger and still developing your sense of self.  In some cases, people can be too black and white on hot button topics and fail to see the grey.  In other cases, online trolling may take your posted opinion as an opportunity to push your buttons and turn it into an online shouting match.

What Can You Do?

My recommendation is to make only the social media platforms you wish to be found on, public and associated with your real name.  All other platforms should be locked down and I would recommend using a pseudonym.  In all cases, you should apply the "THINK" acronym prior to posting.  The THINK acronym stands for:

• T - Is it true?
• H - Is it helpful?
• I - Is it inspiring?
• N - Is it necessary?
• K - Is it kind?

No matter if your social media account is private or public use the THINK acronym prior to posting.  Even private social media accounts can be subject to scrutiny if someone from within your connections takes a screenshot or shares something you have posted publicly.  If you have strong feelings about something, please discuss those opinions in person, around the kitchen table so-to-speak, with those who you are close to.  Politics is a great example of a topic that is better discussed offline and within a circle of those who are close to you.  More often than not, no matter how benign your political opinion maybe, some will either take offence to it or troll you to get a reaction. 

"This idea of purity, and you're never compromised, and you're always politically woke, and all that stuff, you should get over that quickly," Obama said. "The world is messy. There are ambiguities. People who do really good stuff have flaws." Former President Barak Obama (Source: Obama Says Democrats Don't Always Need To Be 'Politically Woke", By: Juana Summers, NPR, October 31, 2019 https://www.npr.org/2019/10/31/774918215/obama-says-democrats-dont-always-need-to-be-politically-woke

Develop A Personal Brand

In an attempt to develop a positive digital footprint you should consider developing a personal brand. One exercise I like to do to develop a personal brand is to take stock of:

• My interests
• My values
• My talents
• My activities

I think about those categories and use them to generate six keywords that describe my brand. In my case, the list of keywords looks like this:

• Creative
• Innovative
• Family
• Vision
• Collaborative
• Positive

I now can use these six keywords to tell my story.  I am a front end web developer and use my creativity daily when working on new projects.  I am innovative and like to think outside the box.  My wife and two daughters are extremely important to me and are a major part of everything I do.  I have vision.  I can see things for what the are and what they could potentially become.  I like to collaborate and work with other colleagues to bring life to projects.  I always try to maintain a positive outlook. 

In one paragraph I can give you an idea of what I am about and what is important to me.  I can then take these keywords and start to look at my social media feeds.  Does the content I post convey any of the keywords I have identified?  If it doesn't I need to either rethink my social media posts or rethink my keywords. It is also important to note that these keywords represent soft skills.  Everyone can identify their soft skills regardless of age, education or work experience.  

The Bottom Line

Social media can be a powerful platform and allows almost everyone to have a voice.  Please use these platforms responsibly and in a positive way.  Things you may find funny, feel strongly about or are inconsiderate to others may not age kindly.  Those posts could come back to limit your opportunities in the near future. 

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Disclaimer: All the opinions are my own and are not the views of any suppliers or manufacturers.