Social media rules to post by

It seems everywhere you go you hear about Facebook, Twitter, blog-ging, and email. For many this is how, including myself, we keep in touch with family and friends.  Facebook allows many to re-new old friendships. I have been found by friends from high school and places we used to live.   As much fun as it is, it does have some inherent dangers. I used to think it was mostly kids that needed to be warned of the dangers of posting comments, pictures and other information.  However, that is not always the case.
For example, did you know that many college admissions officers and employers now routinely check Facebook, Myspace, and other social networking websites.  Employers not only consider what comments and pictures were posted, but also how much time was spent online.  In the case of colleges, they look to see what prospective students have said about other campuses they have visited.  Not surprisingly, graduate schools are not impressed by comments about partying.
Other people that frequently check social networking sites are attorneys.  One situation I recently read about online was a prosecuting attorney who discovered that a 20- year-old drunk driver  whom he was prosecuting had posted pictures of himself in a prison uniform at a party while his recent victim was still in the hospital in serious condition.  This young man who could have had just few months in county jail ended up with a two-year sentence in the state penitentiary.
Adults are not the only ones that can pay for poor judgment for the rest of their lives as many teens are discovering. For example, a 15-year-old was charged with child pornography after using her cell phone to send nude photos of herself (yes, herself, not someone else) to friends.  Being charged as a minor is one thing, however, more prosecutors are trying people under the age of 18 as adults, bringing with it the consequence of a prison sentence and forever having to register as a sex offender barring them from many occupations as well as restricting where they can live.
What people, including our teens, need to understand is that once things are posted on the internet they are there forever.  Yes, they can be deleted, but it is not like tearing up a note passed in class.  Once it is posted on the internet it will always be out there in one way or another.  Also, unlike a paper note, when something is posted online literally hundreds of people may see it within just a few seconds!  Not to mention once it goes viral nothing can stop it and nothing can retract it.
Here are some basic guidelines for posting information online:
1. Keep your information private and don’t accept people as friends if you don’t know them.  I know that sounds very obvious, but many still do not do it.  My rule for my own children is:  If you can not walk up to them and shake their hand then you probably don’t need to accept them as a friend.  Of course there are exceptions to this rule, such as far away family members or, in our case, friends we’ve left behind as we have moved from place to place.
2. The old rule of if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all applies.  Perhaps more so on the internet because there are issues of bullying, slander and other legalities.
3. Okay, if you are stupid enough to do something illegal, don’t post a picture of yourself doing it! This rule always makes me shake my head in disbelief.  Yes, people actually do this.  There are pictures of activities such as underage drinking, illegal drug use, trespassing, driving over the speed limit and a host of others.
4. Think long and hard about joining, “I hate . . .” groups.   Colleges striving to make their campus community diverse and tolerant will not look favorably on statements that can be easily seen as prejudice.
5. Speaking of being offensive.  Posting comments containing vulgar language, nudity, and rude gestures will also hamper your chances for admission to colleges, graduate schools, and for job offers.
Overall, it comes down to using your common sense.  I saw a statement online that sums up most of the rules:  If you would not want your grandmother to see it or hear you say it, then do not post it online!