If you’re like me, your internet presence goes back at least a decade, which means there’s quite a lot of photos, posts, and data out there on the internet. Just taking a quick scroll back to some of my first Facebook posts from middle school made me cringe, which meant it was time to tidy up my internet presence. 

Most of us live a good portion of our lives online. We share bits of ourselves on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and maybe even Myspace and have for years. The problem with this is that sometimes we forget that the internet is public, and we aren’t always thinking about what a post or photo may say about us. This is why many employers and companies are looking to Google to find out who exactly you are, but it doesn’t just stop at the interview stage. In fact, over the last few years, there have been numerous instances of people being fired for their social media posts, some of which were made months or even years prior. 

In our increasingly digital lives, it's more important than ever to curate what we share online carefully. So, let's dive into some practical steps and strategies to ensure your digital footprint reflects the best version of you. Ready to embark on a digital cleanup journey with me? Here’s how you can start."

What should I look out for? 

Consider the impact on your reputation of the following types of content:

Abusive Content

If your feed is full of arguments, rants, or ‘strongly worded opinions’, you may come across as an overly negative person. While social media can be a great place to share your opinions, it might be best to make sure posts like this are private or limit what opinions you post.

Adult Content

While a picture at the beach isn’t a big deal, it’s concerning how some people see no issue with posting pictures of themselves in their underwear or less. The internet is a public place and even when you’re sharing privately, things can get screenshot or reposted. As a rule of thumb, don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your grandma to see.

Illegal Content

Not only could this get your resume swiped right into the recycle bin, but it could also get you a few nights in jail. If authorities see credible evidence for illegal activities, you could be arrested. Think about explaining that slip up to potential employers during a background check... yikes.

Offensive Content

Racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination should have no place in your life and certainly not on social media. Even if it’s “just a joke”, sharing or posting something that could be perceived as bigotry could immediately disqualify you in the eyes of potential or current employers. Over the last few years, there have been dozens (if not more!) people that have been fired from their current jobs due to offensive posts on social media.

Profanity

The language you use on social media is usually the type of language you’ll use when interacting with coworkers. While the occasional swear word isn’t the end of the world, you wouldn’t want a potential employer to find a post or profile dominated by profanity.

Cleaning up your internet presence isn’t about erasing the past; it’s about taking control of how you’re perceived online today and in the future. 

Take a moment to reflect on your digital presence. Don’t be afraid to Google yourself, scroll through your social media feeds, and consider whether what you find aligns with your personal and professional goals! Remember, in the digital age, your online persona can be just as important as your reputation in the real world.