In today’s world wherever we go, social media is there for us. When shopping at stores we see a QR code and add the brands we like the most through our Snapchat. Before applying to the job that we most want, LinkedIn is updated with our most recent skills and jobs. While scrolling through Facebook we see a cooking video that we save for later and attempt for dinner. The best images of our lives are posted on Instagram. With social media, we have become aware of what is around us and other countries, but in special circumstances social media can sometimes get out of hand and cause a problem.

A person’s social media is never private. Your information is always there for anyone to see. It is important to be aware of what you post because a hateful post can trace you down to your job and get you fired. Here are a couple helpful tips where you can learn how to use social media wisely.

• Think professionalism when posting. A great idea to consider when posting is if you don’t want your boss or grandparents to see it, then maybe you should reconsider posting it. Social media doesn’t mean to be dressed professionally in every picture you post, just use your best judgement.
• Topics of controversy always bring a problem to social media platforms. It is best to avoid posting about politics. There is always a person in your friends’ list that will not agree with what you think and will take offense to your opinion. The best way to avoid these conflicts is avoiding these types of posts.
• Remember that what you post is permanent. If you think there’s the slightest chance that you might eventually regret what you post, don’t post it. You don’t want something that you posted years ago to come back to haunt you, or, worse, to prevent you from getting a job.
• Don’t share everything you do. No one needs to know about every step you take outside your home. Keep certain situations private and don’t get too personal with your social media. It’s important to understand that people can track you with your social media posts.
• Know what you want to say with your words before posting that comment or caption. Make sure no one will interpret your words differently or come off the wrong way. Our spoken words are very much different. Consider your social media comment as an email or essay that you need to reread to make sure it makes sense.

Be aware of what you are posting. With appropriate posts that aren’t too personal or controversial, your online platforms will reflect a person who respects others and themselves. Your social media is very much used to judge who you are as a person. Think twice before you post on social media and be careful because that problem you caused because of a simple post can haunt you for the rest of your life.