Ours is a world of technology. It has increased rapidly and grown to affect every aspect of people’s lives. Technology has created a culture obsessed with instant gratification. We want to know what is going on the minute it happens, get instant updates on messages, texts and emails and see how many people are paying attention to what we are posting on social media through favorites, retweets, likes, views and hearts.

Social media has specifically affected people by allowing them to be constantly updated on others’ lives, thus reinforcing the idea of instant knowledge even if it really isn’t important information. Through Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn and other social media sites, we allow others to peek into our personal lives.

While technology and social media have certainly made it easier to stay in touch with people, they have also made it more difficult for people to have any privacy. It’s important for college students, and anyone using social media sites, to realize that the information they post is available to the public.

Even if you use privacy settings that block certain people from viewing your online content, there are still ways that people, including deans and potential employers, can access your personal information. With that in mind, here are some tips I have learned through personal experience and others about using social media wisely:

1. Know that your profiles are a representation of you. Although you may only be sharing part of your life online, people will judge you according to what is posted on your different media accounts. Therefore, you should make sure that your profiles are not showing you in a negative way, and take the time to delete any photos, posts or comments you think might reflect you negatively. And if that means having your mom, dad and grandma follow you on social media, then do it because it could keep you in check.

2. Be cautious of what you post, especially when writing about organizations you’ve been involved in. When dealing with social media, you are an extension of your clubs, schools and jobs. That means that any negative things you post about these organizations reflect poorly not only on you, but also the organization. Furthermore, there are often consequences when you negatively represent the organizations you are involved in, such as being fired or having other serious repercussions.

3. Be protective of who can and cannot see your accounts. While there are some ways to get around privacy controls, always make sure you know the people who are following you on social media. For some people, it has become a competition to see who can get the most followers, friends or connections on varying sites, but it’s important to only let the people you know follow you on social media. You don’t want to give strangers easy access to your personal information, even if that means you have a smaller number of “friends” on your accounts.

By keeping yourself safe online and making sure your social media profiles show you in the best light possible, there will be many rewards because you will prove you are respectable in all forms. Ultimately, social media is a great way to promote yourself and your work. It is important for students to keep track of what they are posting, while still using the sites in fun and creative ways.

Claire Noack can be reached at noac8702@stthomas.edu.