Becoming "Socially Smart"

       During this day and age, social networking has taken over most people's, especially teens', lives. Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, and many other online communication websites allow millions of people to search, follow, and friend others. While these tools can be very beneficial, they can also cause a lot of problems for the socially uneducated. Particularly, socially uneducated teens are putting comments, photos, and videos on the world wide web that can be detrimental to their reputation. They are not even considering the harmful effects that could happen if the wrong person saw these personal postings. Whether it be a sexual predator or a future employer, anyone can see the information you put online, even from years past. Your sexy dancing video or comments on being wasted the weekend before can be seen by anyone. Most teens are oblivious to this concept, or choose to ignore it, when they should be doing quite the opposite. Teens need to take caution now before it's too late, and sensor what they put on the Internet for everyone to see.

P.S. A person's reputation is what determines their future. Any future employer, friend, or spouse will judge you based on what they have heard about you or what they have researched about you. When someone's reputation is ruined it is extremely difficult to reverse. I knew a girl who sent naked pictures of herself to a guy, and eventually they got around the school. This incident completely ruined her reputation, and although she said she was sorry and never made any more poor choices, everyone always remembered the mishaps and her reputation could not be repaired. Now, this sad situation is only something that others can learn about in order for them to not make the same poor choice.

-inspired by this article