Google never forgets
Your One Step this week:
✓ Talk to your child about how their digital footprint lasts “forever." Use our examples below as conversation starters.
Kids/teens should know they are creating a digital reputation; they are leaving a digital footprint with their online activities. This can be tied to their identity and it can influence outcomes when they apply for schools, jobs and enter relationships. Google never forgets.
Assume college admissions officers will search for online information about your child. Potential and current employers may read what your child posts on social media or YouTube. Use the stories below about the unintended consequences of online posts to help your child learn from the mistakes of others.
Conversation starters
How a girls’ softball team was disqualified from the Little League World Series after a Snapchat post;
Six examples of people fired for their social media posts.
“Everything you do now ends up in your permanent record. The best plan is to overload Google with a long tail of good stuff and to always act as if you’re on Candid Camera, because you are.”
— Seth Godin, Author
Talking points with your child
✓ Consider anything shared on your phone/device to be public and permanent. Assume nothing is "private."
✓ Evaluate what the impact could be (for you or someone else) when publishing a photo, status update, or comment before you post it. Would in-person communication be better?
✓ Assume your friends’ parents are seeing your texts/posts, so only write something you would let them overhear.