Facebook and Twitter and Instagram, oh my! Social networking has taken the world by storm. It's how we keep up with friends, family, celebrities and the news, and without it, the entire teenage population would be forced to rediscover archaic forms of entertainment, such as reading books or exploring the outdoors. Horrifying thought isn't it?
But social networking is not just for teenagers anymore – everyone is doing it! People of all ages, businesses, schools, and apparently a few pets have discovered the wonders of status updates, tweets, and posting pictures. Parents and their children can now cross paths in the World Wide Web. (Trust me, there's nothing quite like getting poked by your grandma on Facebook or seeing your dad use a hashtag.)
Because social media has become so widely used, more and more employers are including it in their employee hiring process. This is explored in Jacob Davidson's Article "The 7 Social Media Mistakes Most Likely to Cost You a Job." According to Davidson, the majority of employers are checking the social media accounts of potential employees in order to get a better idea of who the candidates really are. Anyone can look good on paper or fake their way through an interview, but in most cases their social media accounts will tell the real story. Checking someone's Facebook or Twitter accounts can give you far more insight into their character than any hour-long conversation. They are in their comfort zone, so their true personality comes out. That is why Davidson warns users to be cautious about what they post.
Davidson found that some of the biggest red flags for employers are posts that reference alcohol or drugs, those of sexual nature, and those using vulgar language or incorrect grammar. Instead, those who wish to impress potential should edit out any questionable content and include references to volunteer work or work experience on their pages. Even if your privacy settings are on, there will always be someone out there who can gain access to your accounts.
However, social media isn't all bad. In fact, it has proven to a helpful tool. In Patti Neighmond's article "Social Media, The New Weapon In The Battle To Lose Weight," the role of social networking in motivated people to get into or stay in shape is explored. Neighmond opens with the story of Liz Paul, a woman motivated by her Twitter followers and Facebook friends to stay on her workout regime. Having so many people send her helpful suggestions and words of encouragement made her feel like she wasn't alone. According an assistant professor of nutrition at Arizona State, "it's the social push that helps make people accountable" (Neighmond). People know that their followers are watching, so at the very least they are motivated to stay in shape to impress them.
Growing up in a conservative household without any social networking accounts, I did not discover the world of social media until very recently. My Facebook isn't even a year old, and my Twitter and Instagram accounts remain mostly inactive. I mainly use my accounts to observe the activity of my friends and followers, and although I agree with Neighmond that social media has positive potential, I have seen much more questionable material, such as that mentioned in Davidson's article, than anything else. People have become consumed with these sites, updating their statuses several times a day, posting hundreds of pictures, and it's getting out of control. Sure Facebook allows you to connect with other users in all corners of the world, but it is hindering our ability to communicate with those around us. There is no such thing as privacy anymore, and people post intimate details of their lives for all to see. I can appreciate keeping up with friends and family, but in the long run I think we would be better off if people relied on it less.
Articles:
The 7 Social Media Mistakes Most Likely to Cost You a Job
Social Media, The New Weapon In The Battle To Lose Weight
Photo Credit
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