It seems like a simple concept, right? The internet is public, therefore anything you post can be accessed; if you don’t want someone to see something, don’t post it. Well, many people in my generation cannot grasp something so simple.
If I had a dollar for every time I saw someone from my generation posting pictures of their drugs trying to sell them, I would incorporate Lone Conservative and make it YUGE. Somehow, people do not understand that breaking the law and displaying it on the internet not only allows your family and future employers to see, but literally gives evidence to the police on an electronic platter. I don’t think these people actually want to be arrested. They just think they’re untouchable.
This really crossed my mind when I covered the story of a Boston University student who stole two Trump yard signs and proceeded to take videos and pictures documenting her crime and post them on social media. But it didn’t stop there. This girl bragged about her act online and then bragged about not being arrested or fined for it. The student has since apologized and claims to have paid back the homeowner, but the problem here is that she thought it was okay in the first place. What makes young people feel so righteous to commit a crime and share it to the world without expecting repercussions? This student was shocked that this video went viral. She claimed she did it because she thought only her friends would be interested in it.
The same goes for people who share nude photos on the internet or Snapchat and are surprised when they are shared. If you want to take pictures that expose yourself, fine, that’s your prerogative. But just keep in mind, it is very easy for people to see them. Whether you are posting them to adult entertainment under a fake name or sending them via Snapchat, they can and probably will be shared. Many young people think Snapchat is a trusted app to send photos like this. It’s not. A simple search will turn up apps to save your received snaps. People should also take hackers and doxing into consideration because these things happen. Moral of the story here: If you don’t want someone to see something, you probably shouldn’t save it somewhere connected to Wi-Fi.
Look at your online presence and ask yourself: Would you hire yourself if you were an employer? With my Twitter rants and highly conservative articles and videos, chances are many liberal-leaning companies wouldn’t even consider me, but at least I make sure that everything I post online stays true to how I want to be perceived. Millennials, can you say the same? Is your social media something that you wouldn’t be embarrassed for employers to see? I promise you, they look.
So, I urge millennials to:
- Not commit crimes. And if you can’t resist being a criminal, post your videos online only if you are comfortable with the likelihood that you will face repercussions.
- Not post things online if you wouldn’t be okay with having them be shared everywhere.
- Not ruin your careers before they begin. Put yourself in the shoes of employers: They ultimately want someone who has a clean and professional profile.
Kassy Dillon
Kassy Dillon is a political commentator, media strategist, and the founder and former president of Lone Conservative. While attending a small women’s college in Western Massachusetts, she founded Lone Conservative, an online publication created to give a voice to conservative college students. She frequently makes media appearances and writes on topics involving the Middle East, free speech, and cultural issues on college campuses. Her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, The Hill, the Daily Wire, the Washington Examiner, and Campus Reform.
The views expressed in this article are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Lone Conservative staff.
@KassyDillon
