Tag Archives: social media screening

social media reputation risks

Way back in 2017, the Harvard Crimson published an article about the college’s reversal of acceptances for at least ten students due to inappropriate social media posts. That trend has since escalated. Social media posts are now a top reason why jobs are lost, reputations are “cancelled,” and anyone who thoughtlessly posts something they might later regret may end up in a news headline.

After that Harvard incident, The Washington Post reported on another voided Harvard admission. The prospective student was flagged for “racist and vituperative comments he had made online when he was 16.”

Harvard is not the only college reviewing applicants’ social media use. All now do. So do many organizations. If you are using profanity, making comments that can be interpreted as racist, sexist, violent or just plain rude, you can lose that potential job, promotion or opportunity. (Own or launching a business and exploring lines of credits? Underwriters are now reviewing your business’s social media channels.)

Tips for Safe Social Media Use

If you don’t want to lose opportunities because of your social media use, use a neutral tone in your commentary. Avoid political messaging that might put off your clients or colleagues. Don’t offend anyone with a share that you might think is innocuous. Famous? Recall what happened to comedian Roseanne Barr, who was fired in 2018 from her popular program by ABC after posting a racist tweet. ABC did not want to be perceived as supporting her controversial views.

Don’t think that can happen to you? Check out Social Intelligence, a social media background checking company used by employers to vet potential hires. They review and flag user-generated content in four primary categories:

·         Racist, sexist, or discriminatory behavior

·         Sexually explicit material

·         Threats or acts of violence

·         Potentially illegal activity

“Why screen social media for your candidates? Reputation. Safeguard your hard-earned public trust with a reputation management process that effectively identifies candidates who might stain your name,” reads one message on the organization’s website.

 
 
Reputation Communications

As we grapple with this “new normal,” one thing is clear: now we are all virtual.

Even after COVID-19 is under control, most of us will continue to promote our expertise and stature on the internet. We will have as many real-time video meetings as we are now. That, too, will be the “new normal.”

In this new world, your digital presence is the new you. Remember that, more than ever, you are who Google says you are. This is the perfect time for you to plan, evaluate and, if necessary, reboot your online reputation.

Here’s a brief checklist:

How is your personal branding website? How about your biography and, if you are preparing to pivot, your resume? Have you wanted to write articles, start a blog or contribute an Op-Ed piece to a major media outlet? Or to Medium, Jeff Bezos’ thought-leadership platform of choice? Have you mastered the teleconferencing platform Zoom? (If not, check out their filter that makes you look your best as well as their backgrounds, which display an image or video. You can also upload your own.)

As virtual reputation experts we offer these free resources to help you strategize: Digital Reputation Management for CEOs & the C-Suite. It’s short and to the point. We also have the ultimate insider’s guide, Reputation Reboot: What Every Business Leader, Rising Star and VIP Needs to Know.

For those of you who have wanted to engage our help in attaining an influential Google reset, we are fully operational. As always, we are here if you need us.

If you have high school or college students marooned indoors during this time, please be sure and have them do a thorough check of their social media posts. If they have ever shared or written posts that can be interpreted as being racist, sexist, or discriminatory, they may lose their future opportunities as interns, employees and college students. Our article, Inside the Social Media Screening Industry explains the risks they face.