What can I do?
Strategies for managing your online reputation
Strategies
- Think before you post anything
- Understanding your digital footprint: Search for yourself using Google or another search provider.
- Appropriate language and behaviour: Consider how others may interpret your words, especially if using abbreviations.
- Protect your passwords: Don’t disclose and the stronger the better! www.pctools.com/guides/password/
- Testing your privacy: use privacy settings on services like Facebook. In particular, you might find it helpful to turn on Timeline Review and see how your profile looks to other people.
- Discussing expectations with friends: Are you happy to be tagged in a photo?
- Familiarise yourself with your organisation’s policies and procedures: Make sure you know how what the rules are!
- Know how to report a problem
More sophisticated ways
- Limiting your online information in Google searches
- Removing yourself from Facebook searches
- Manage your friends lists and redefining access you allow to your content
- Manage your online photos and albums
- Explore what other applications access your online profiles
- Does your physical location appear online?
- Look for photos you are ‘tagged’ in
- Regularly review your privacy settings and amend accordingly
Consider:
- Scale – global platforms
- Permanency – once it is online it is there forever
- Audience – public or private? friends, friends of friends or everyone?
Use the technology to its full potential but just be aware of the pitfalls and Think before you post.
Where to seek help
Maybe one of our helplines is the right place for you.
Be in the know
You’ll get knowledge, skills and tools to make the internet safer
for young people at your care. Each sent once per month.