(ThyBlackMan.com) Talking to the NULITES of the Jacksonville, Florida Urban League. Teens and young adults must think about who can and will potentially see their content.
The use of technology opens doors that can create challenges in the lives of youth, teens and young adults. In too many occasions teens use technology as a tool to present themselves as more than they are. Allowing the use of tech to share their lives in inappropriate ways, trying to impress others at the expense of their privacy and pride.
We all make mistakes that sometimes cannot be undone, the mistakes of the past can sometimes influence the possibilities of the future. When teens start applying for internships, employment, scholarships and even military service they are systematically Googled, researched and investigated to see if they are in fact the right person for the right job or college, university or even if they have the “right stuff” for military service.
The seriousness can be seen as increased numbers of employers look at the Social Media content and digital footprints of teens and young
adults they are considering on employing. Sometimes the thought by teens is that deleting an account will digitally “hide” them from employer’s eyes, but that is not the case. Sites are backed up, archived and shared within multiple networks so the information which consists of text, pictures, videos, tweets and other types of digital information are stored on a server someplace that a person or business and even law enforcement can have access to.
Companies, businesses, higher education, vocational schools, all conduct a sort of “social media background check.” Teens and young adults do not want to risk jeopardizing the opportunity for employment because of a photo or post that may have been posted or even tagged years ago. Not only do youth, teens and young adults have to be careful of what they post they have to be cautious of who/whom they are tagged with.
Parents need to “stalk” their children and themselves by Googling, pretending to be a potential employer or recruiter to look for potential digital problems.
Many students are intimidated by just the idea of being investigated by their Social Media content, and even their high schools are doing this because of violence, drug use, gang activity and other issues. People looking at their Facebook, Snap Chat, Vine and Instagram content. The questions are, what are colleges and job recruiters looking for on these pages and for what purpose?
Kaplan Test Prep conducted a survey in 2014 that found, “Over a third (35%) of college admissions officers have visited an applicant’s social media page to learn more about them”, (Kaplan Test Prep 2014) this number is steadily increasing. Once students know that colleges and businesses use Social Media content in respect to recruiting and hiring this influences what they post and encourages scrutiny and caution in the actions of students.
Senior students like Kyleigh McGrail, Stone Bridge High School, Ashburn, Virginia stated about Social Media, “I’ve always been told, by parents and teachers, that colleges look at your social media accounts. I’ve heard stories of recruited athletes that got their scholarships taken away because of what they put on social media. Because of this, my social media accounts have always been clean, I think it’s super important.”
During the progression through high school, students take their Social Media content seriously the closer they get to graduation because of the influence it can play in being accepted into higher education or denied acceptance, caution should start in middle school. Mental stability or instability can sometimes be detected from multiple postings of photos and videos. The increase
awareness and concern of mental health can potentially be evaluated by a persons’ Social Media content from the shooting and violence that has happened in the past by others, similar
thinking in radicalism are dangerous signs.
The reality has grown that Social Media is the best way to show what you are “really, really good at” without having your whole life summed up in a resume, curriculum vita and/or cover letter. The simplicity and efficiency of Social Media cover multiple areas. First impressions are very important and Social Media can enhance impressions or tell a different story. Word to students in middle and high school, as a Social Media speaker, blogger and educator,
Social Media should reflect the positive of a student, their leadership potential, and vision for their future and diversity in working with others.
The competition is high for employment, military careers are looking for those who are the same both on and off paper; this is a global competition not just local and national. Technology is influencing global commerce, employment, and economic/intellectual mobility.
“Like it or not, in the Social Age we are judged by the character displayed on Social Media. This is not your Social Media of the past where it was just text and command line entries, it is graphical, interactive, influential and buzzing with information.” William Jackson, M.Edu.
Parents take the time talk to your children, guide them, and think like a future employer or college recruiter looking for new students. Would you honestly hire your child, grandchild, or other family members after you see their postings online?
Photos from the NULITES Social Media workshop
Jacksonville Florida Urban League
http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/williamdjackson/Urban%20League%20NULITES%20Workshop/story
Rhonda Lee, NULITES Advisor
Jacksonville Urban League
r.lee@jaxul.org
Staff Writer; William D. Jackson
Find out more about this talented writer over at; OCS For Education.