Consumer Corner: Could Social Media Be A Problem For Young People?

Provided by the Bucks County Department of Consumer Protection:

Q. My oldest daughter recently graduated from college and has begun applying for various employment opportunities in her field. I also have a son who has recently graduated from High School and is currently applying to colleges. I have heard that both potential employers as well as various colleges could use social media to help determine an applicant’s reputation. Both my children have Facebook and Twitter accounts that they use to interact with their friends and post pictures. Is that a potential problem for them? – H.M. Doylestown

A. Thank you for your inquiry. While this is not a typical consumer issue that we cover in our department, we felt that it was worth sharing. We were able to find a wonderful resource with great advice on the website www.BestColleges.com . The article is titled How to Manage Your Online Reputation.

There is nothing wrong with using social media for fun but a little awareness will go a long way.

According to this article, the people that use online social sites should be somewhat worried. It is becoming routine for employers and admissions offices to check on an applicants’ “profile”.

Social media such as Facebook and Twitter can help them gain a more complete picture of an applicant or candidate than a resume and cover letter alone. By seeing these “profiles’”, recruiters can evaluate how you present yourself as well as your interests and hobbies. A candidate’s web presence can actually make or break an offer.

Among the statistics we found, here are just a few interesting facts; 70% of recruiters denied candidates due to information found online, 75% of companies have hiring policies that encourage recruiters to examine an applicant’s online reputation and 84% of recruiters think that online reputations will impact future hiring procedures during the next five years.

For additional information on this topic and to learn the basics of reputation management, please visit http://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/manage-your-online-reputation/ .