Question

5. Why is it important for people to portray themselves positively, yet truthfully, on the Internet? (2 pts) Use details from the text to support your answer.

Answer 1

The Dangers of Online Social Networking

(1) When Myspace, a social networking site and precursor to Facebook, began in 2003, thousands of teens signed on. From 2005 until early 2008, it was the most visited social networking site in the world. That is until Facebook came on the scene in April 2008. Facebook and Myspace opened up lines of communication for everyone. Now there’s Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Twitter is an online social networking and blogging service where people can send and read text messages, called “tweets,” of 140 characters or fewer. YouTube is a web site where people can upload and share videos. LinkedIn is a business-oriented networking site used by professionals.

(2) People connect to others by posting their own information, pictures, and videos and commenting on the posts of others. They acquire friends, old and new on these sites. But while users can stay in contact with people no matter where they live, posting personal information on these sites comes with risks. That’s why it is important to use the privacy and security settings on these social networks. These settings help control who sees the postings and who has access to users’ information. Checking the settings periodically helps to ensure users are protected, especially after site updates.

(3) When something is posted online, it is there forever for everyone to see. Anyone who chooses to post something should be very cautious. According to Facebook, some things can be deleted from its site. However, certain things, like friend requests that were rejected, cannot be deleted completely until the account itself is deleted. This allows Facebook to ensure that any unwanted connections aren’t displayed again. If someone posts something and deletes it after forwarding it to a friend, it will still be out there in cyberspace.

(4) It’s not a good idea to post too much personal information, such as one’s full name, the names of family members, phone numbers and address, or a complete birthdate. And it’s better if the profile photo does not resemble the ones used on a passport. Photos like these can be used to make fraudulent identification cards. Some people use the information they discover on social media sites to steal people’s identities. Identity thieves can use someone else’s name and information to get into the victim’s bank accounts or credit cards. These thieves can also access people’s data or commit crimes. For protection, users should use different passwords for each site and e-mail account that requires personal information. And for safety, passwords should be changed periodically. These precautions make it more difficult for thieves to find people’s personal information. Passwords should be long and combine capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Family names or pets’ names should not be used, unless they are combined with numbers and symbols.

(5) It’s important for people to portray themselves in a positive light. That includes what is said, how one responds to others’ postings, and the pictures that are posted. It’s also essential for those who post to remember the people who will view the postings. For example, posting personal information and pictures on a professional site like LinkedIn would be inappropriate. Group pictures of friends together on Facebook are fine. However, pictures of people making strange faces, behaving in a way that isn’t flattering, or dressing in outlandish costumes or something inappropriate are not good idea.

(6) Inappropriate posts can cause serious consequences for a student’s academic career and future. Students can fail to get jobs, interviews, and internships based on information potential employers discover about candidates on social media. Research has found that 70 percent of job recruiters reject candidates based on information they find online. However, recruiters admire a strong, positive representation of a candidate’s intelligence, thoughtfulness, and attitude. Pictures and statements that are inappropriate can be seen as a reflection of one’s personal character. High school and college athletes should be aware that universities monitor social media sites of recruits and current athletes. This helps them to determine the athlete’s ability to represent the university in a positive way. Once students have been accepted into a college, they shouldn’t let their guard down on social media.

(7) Representing oneself positively, yet accurately, is critical. However, some people don’t. They create a false or highly exaggerated profile on social media that isn’t an accurate representation of who they really are. They do this because they may be bored or lonely. Sometimes they may want to embarrass an acquaintance by impersonating someone who is interested in that person or to play a trick on the person. Cyber pranks and cyber bullying are particularly vicious because the information is out in cyberspace forever. Furthermore, people who use social media sites should be wary of connecting with anyone they don’t know. And social media users should never meet with anyone they don’t know personally.

(8) Others may want to develop a relationship with someone without revealing their true identity. This is called catfishing. The unknown person may refuse to reveal a phone number where they can be reached. Or, they may continually say they can’t meet in public for some reason. Another clue is their pictures may look unrealistic. The details about their personal life may keep changing or their life story seems unbelievable. These are all indications of catfishing. It is important to pay attention to what they say and look for inconsistencies in their stories. If people suspect they are being catfished, it is best to end the online relationship. And if harassing begins, remove them from the friends’ list and block them. Any signs of catfishing should be reported to an adult. It’s best to not connect with any unknown people online.

(9) Despite all the cautions about using social media sites, there are definite benefits to them. They allow people to connect with friends and family that live close by and those who live far away. Through social media, adults can meet people who share their interests or goals. For example, a graduate of a university may be able to connect online with other alumni who live nearby.

(10) Some people may have several groups of friends that don’t necessarily know each other. For example, someone may have friends on a soccer team and friends in a theater group. The soccer team buddies may be interested in certain things that this person posts that the theater group friends might not find all that captivating. Using tools on social media, it’s possible to manage the information shared with the different groups. Online pages for the different groups can be created. For example, a special web page can be created for family members who live far away. It’s a way to keep those family members up-to-date with news and events.

(11) Being honest with people on social media is important. If a friend posts something inappropriate, let the offending party know. And everyone should be receptive if a friend tells them that something they posted makes them uncomfortable. It’s as important to be respectful of friends online as it is in person.

Answer 2

@blake57roger @thedj4JC

Answer 3

@SarahMotionless

Answer 4

Because what you post on the internet will never go away its always there and could affect your future opportunities in life as the author said 'Inappropriate posts can cause serious consequences for a student’s academic career and future. Students can fail to get jobs, interviews, and internships based on information potential employers discover about candidates on social media. Research has found that 70 percent of job recruiters reject candidates based on information they find online. However, recruiters admire a strong, positive representation of a candidate’s intelligence, thoughtfulness, and attitude. Pictures and statements that are inappropriate can be seen as a reflection of one’s personal character. High school and college athletes should be aware that universities monitor social media sites of recruits and current athletes. This helps them to determine the athlete’s ability to represent the university in a positive way. Once students have been accepted into a college, they shouldn't let their guard down on social media'.