Your Posts Can Get You Fired

That digital footprint can be a liability

Photo created via Canva.

People get so caught up in posting on the internet that they forget it’s also an archive.

Something you posted in a moment of frustration that felt harmless at the time could live a life long after you’re gone. It’s like we forget that those posts can be screenshotted, scraped, or indexed and handed to people who will happily capitalize on your worst moment.

No matter where you are in life using caution when posting or commenting on posts is wise.

If you’re searching for employment, be particularly careful because your digital footprint can be a liability. We know that employers Google candidates. But your co-workers also search to see what, if anything, you are posting. Depending on the policies in place at that company, you could jeopardize your employment or an opportunity to obtain employment.

I’m trying to express my thoughts around this without sounding preachy or judgmental. I absolutely believe in people’s right to express themselves freely. In no way am I implying that you can’t use social media or advising you to delete all the apps.

I’m saying that not every thought deserves expression and to use wisdom when on social media. Context may not travel well, but your name certainly will.

Obviously there are people who use social media as a source of income. They are dependent on engagement and viral posts can earn them thousands in income.

You need to think about how some of these people go viral. They are hateful, dehumanizing immoral beings using an algorithm to spread their disease. While you may be making them richer by liking, sharing and commenting, you are not earning the life-changing amounts of money your support gives them.

You have something to lose. And that loss may hurt your family and anyone associated with you if not careful.

People like to pretend that their choices have no consequences which is rarely true. Life finds a way to balance your ledger whether you believe in that sort of thing or not.

I was forwarded a video of someone ranting about Black people.

I didn’t know the person, but one of my family members did. She was angry, but didn’t know what, if anything, she should do. While she had no personal ties to the person, she worked with this person’s mother. I told her to block the person so the algorithm would stop recommending the videos. She did and left it alone.

Long story short, the video got back to the person’s employer. My family member overheard his mother talking about it at work. The company fired the man because they got bombarded with calls accusing them of employing a racist.

The company had every right to cut any ties with someone bringing that level of negative attention to their business.

People need to remember that for hourly workers in at‑will states, anything can be used for termination. If you are salaried, it can mean a paid or unpaid “administrative leave” while the company figures out the risk of backlash. Not many companies want to be associated with anyone who might cause them bad press. It’s not worth it and you are replaceable at the end of the day.

Having freedom of speech as a constitutional right is related to the government not private employers. You are not untouchable because you worked at a company for 12 years.

Additionally, deleting a post won’t remove the damage. When a post triggers massive complaints, the fact that it existed will likely matter more than deleting it.

I didn’t want to get preachy earlier but indulge me a moment now.

If you are using your platform to be racist, no matter what color you are, you deserve consequences too. Nobody gets a pass in my opinion. There is no excuse for racism or using the internet to poison others with it.

If you are using your platform to promote hate or the dehumanization of others, you don’t get a pass either. Decent people should not only be reporting your platform, but they should avoid doing anything that might amplify your message.

We should be finding ways to uplift and heal one another, teach skills or educate in some way not injecting more negativity into the world.

Rant over.😊

Just be careful on the internet.

You have no privacy there.

Want to express yourself with some sense of privacy? Buy a diary or journal and keep it locked up somewhere.

If you can’t stay off social media, remember to be intentional about your posts/comments because it’s a place that keeps perfect receipts.

People posting on social media should remember that their posts and comments are archived. No matter your intention, the internet keeps perfect receipts.

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