You may have heard
“clean up on aisle 5”? It’s a common announcement in grocery stores when there
is a spill or a mess that needs to be taken care of. But what if the mess is
not on the floor but on your social media profile? We aren’t talking about the
kid spilling cereal on the floor, but the shelf of tomato sauce crashing to the
floor. It is a real mess. When was your last social media cleanup?
We are all guilty of
sharing things on social media in the heat of the moment. From politics and
social issues to personal dramas, we can post things we later regret. If you’ve shared anything inappropriate,
offensive, or embarrassing, it’s wise to address it before it negatively
affects your reputation, relationships, or career. Recruiters or potential
clients can dismiss you immediately, never bothering to review your qualifications
if what you have posted seems offensive. Trolls can attack you and further
muddy your profile with additional negative posts.
Here are some tips on
how to clean up your social media presence:
- Delete or hide any posts that are negative, rude, or controversial. Ask
yourself if you want to be associated with anything that could hurt
someone’s feelings, spark an argument, or cause trouble.
- Review your privacy settings and make sure you are comfortable with
who can see your posts, comments, likes, and tags. You might want to limit
your audience to your close friends and family or create custom lists for
different types of posts.
- Be mindful of what you share and how you say it. Think twice before
you post something that could be misunderstood, misinterpreted, or taken
out of context. Use a polite and respectful tone and avoid using
profanity, slang, or abbreviations that could confuse or offend someone.
- Apologize if you have made a mistake or hurt someone’s feelings. If
you have posted something that was wrong, insensitive, or inappropriate,
admit it and say you are sorry. Don’t try to justify, defend, or delete
your post, as that could make things worse. Be sincere and humble and try
to make amends.
What about freedom of
speech? You can say whatever you want, but you aren’t free of the consequences
of that speech. If being a provocateur is your brand or a calling, then own it.
Be smart. Check your facts. Don’t share disinformation. Don’t engage in name-calling.
You decide your personal branding and professional online presence.
Remember, your social
media profile reflects who you are and what you stand for. It can also affect
how others perceive you and interact with you. So don’t let a spill or a mess
ruin your image or reputation. Clean up aisle 5 and keep your social media
presence neat and tidy.
Photo Credit:
Sandra Lee Schubert
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