[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phNB8WLVtm0]
The local news station WWMT recently aired a story about students at Western Michigan University (which I attend/work at) who were disciplined over actions that were recorded and uploaded to the popular video website, YouTube. Unfortunately for these students, WMU ran across the video and they are now being disciplined. While this situation hits closer to home than other stories in my perspective, one of my instructors said it best today that we need to watch our E-image.
With the popularity of social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace, sharing of information is a normal occurrence for individuals in their late teens and early twenties. WMU is known for it’s party environment, and the profiles of most students on Facebook illustrates it. What some have begun to find out in a negative fashion is that everyone is starting to view the content on the internet, including business and other organizations. In the past year, I have read multiple articles where a person has been denied a job, disciplined, or even arrested based on the content they have published on the internet. I personally know of individuals on campus (which I refuse to name the department or indivduals) that have used Facebook or Myspace to gather information about students applying for jobs. It’s important to recognize the importance of social networking in society both today and in the future, but users of these networks need to be conscious of what they publish, whether it be a joke picture, or a screw off you tube video.
I personally removed a picture of me pointing a gun at a friend during a Halloween party because it gives off the wrong impression. My roommate who recently graduated and is currently job hunting has also untagged himself and removed all images that show him in the wrong impression. This is a topic that isn’t in the main spotlight yet, but with enough awareness these issues will diminish.
20 Apr 08
2:12 pm
It’s about time someone stood up and said this. People go a bit too far with some of the stuff they post on the internet. When it comes to the job bit, there’s an interesting argument. Some believe that employers who look on Myspace and Facebook, don’t really need employers. That they are invading personal lives. People believe, “What I do outside of work, has nothing to do with what I do at work.” While that may not be true, the employer doesn’t see things that way. They feel that if you post it on your public page, it’ll affect your performance in the workspace. Both have valid points and are partial truth. Unfortunately I know I’ve see people do stupid things at work and away from work that do affect their performance. I’ve worked with people who will get high before and after work, I’ve worked with people who went on lunch and came back high (cause that was their lunch), I’ve worked with people who can’t separate their destructive habits from work. When employers see these pictures and movies online, they immediately associate that destructive action with the person. Do I think they should? No. Do I think it’s right? Absolutely not. Then again, I’m not the employer. People forget, that when you are employed with a company, you represent them in all fashions. Plus, what do you really get out of posting a picture of you getting high? I think that’s the dumbest thing you could possible do! When I read this blog and I think back at my 1 year at WMU, it brought back memories. I had no idea that Western was a party school till I got there. It used to be a hidden reputation but now it’s made its way in to the public eye. Those kids who got prosecuted by the University didn’t use common sense… for that matter, didn’t think. People forget this on a consistent basis. When you put someone on the internet, whether be it a video or in a blog, EVERYONE can see it! It’s PUBLIC information now. Easily accessed by anyone and everyone. Look at all the news reports about the videos being put on Youtube. Hell, there was even a report years ago about businesses looking at people’s Facebook pages and making a decision whether to hire them or not. Some people never learn. I’ve seen pictures of people binge drinking, smoking weed, salvia or whatever, posing nude, etc. If is was your company, would you hire someone like that? We think it’s wrong but that sends a message that you can’t control yourself. I wouldn’t want to hire someone like that. It’s something to think about.