What began as fun…
Became permanent.
What felt private…
Became public.
What seemed harmless…
Became evidence.
Before you post your next thought, photo, opinion, or confession, consider who else may be reading it someday.
We are living in an age of technology unlike anything mankind has ever seen.
Smart phones.
The internet.
Email.
Social media.
Instant communication.
Never before has it been easier to share our thoughts, our experiences, our opinions, and even our personal lives with the world.
And therein lies both the blessing and the danger.
THE SOCIAL NETWORKING EXPLOSION
Social networking arrived disguised as something fun.
And to be fair, much of it is.
It allows us to reconnect with old friends.
Build businesses.
Share experiences.
Meet new people.
Stay connected.
But there is another side to the story.
One that deserves consideration.
THE DIGITAL FOOTPRINT
Every post.
Every comment.
Every photograph.
Every video.
Every opinion.
Every argument.
Every confession.
Leaves a footprint.
Most people think they are posting for today.
What they fail to realize is they may be posting for years from now.
Information rarely disappears.
Once released into the digital world, it often develops a life of its own.
NOT JUST WORKING FOR YOU
Many people assume their online information is working for them.
Sometimes it is.
But it is also available to others.
People you know.
People you don’t know.
People who like you.
People who don’t.
People who may someday have interests that conflict with yours.
The information doesn’t discriminate.
It simply exists.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
The same information that helps friends find you can help strangers find you.
The same information that markets your business can reveal personal details about your life.
The same information that creates opportunities can also create vulnerabilities.
Bad actors exist.
Scammers.
Con artists.
Identity thieves.
Predators.
Manipulators.
They study human behavior because people willingly provide the information.
THE WHAT-IF FILE
Years later, circumstances change.
You apply for a job.
You enter a business partnership.
You go through a legal dispute.
You seek public office.
You become successful.
Suddenly old posts begin resurfacing.
Words once spoken casually may be viewed differently through the lens of time.
Someone asks:
“DID YOU WRITE THIS?”
Now the conversation changes.
THE COURT OF PUBLIC MEMORY
Human beings tend to forget.
The internet often does not.
Photographs.
Comments.
Opinions.
Arguments.
Associations.
They can remain available long after emotions have cooled and circumstances have changed.
This reality deserves wisdom and caution.
THINK BEFORE YOU SHARE
Not everything needs to be published.
Not every thought deserves an audience.
Not every emotion requires a post.
Not every opinion needs immediate expression.
Wisdom asks questions before speaking.
Social media often encourages the opposite.
THE BETTER APPROACH
Use social networking.
Enjoy it.
Benefit from it.
Build relationships.
Build business.
Share encouragement.
Share wisdom.
Share hope.
But do so with awareness.
Ask yourself:
Would I be comfortable explaining this ten years from now?
Would I want my family reading this?
Would I want an employer reading this?
Would I want a judge, client, customer, or future friend reading this?
If the answer causes hesitation, pause.
THE PAYOFF
Technology is a wonderful servant.
It becomes dangerous when it becomes an unexamined master.
The goal is not fear.
The goal is awareness.
Social networking can build bridges or create burdens.
The difference is often determined by a single decision made before pressing the Post button.
Think carefully.
Share wisely.
And remember…
What you release into the world may remain there long after you’ve forgotten it.
— Richie
Pearls for the Soul
when you feed the soul, you feed everything.
https://pearlsforthesoul.com
Been expecting you