What may seem like a harmless post on Facebook or Twitter may end up affecting a student’s college or professional career.
James Jackson and Alexandria Harris warned a crowd of roughly 60 students against careless posting, advising them how to conduct themselves properly on social media sites during their presentation, “The Impact of Technology on Young Adults.”
The event was hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Project Search and Students of Color Mentoring, Aiding, Retaining and Teaching Program in 201 Union at 7:30 p.m.
During the presentation, Jackson, president of Jay Jay Speaks, a company that focuses on inspirational and educational speeches, and Harris, resource specialist for the Gateway to College Program at Owens Community College, cautioned students against posting inappropriate pictures or rants on social media sites.
“What you did freshman year may come back to bite you senior year,” Jackson said.
If prospective employers see this, they may be quick to reject the application for a more professional applicant, Jackson said,
These posts can also be in violation of student conduct in college, Harris said.
“If someone is mad at you, they might get back at you,” she said in regards to people reposting pictures they were sent to social media sites.
When it comes down to it, the two suggested monitoring usage of technology.
“If you look at social media, are you aware of how much you’re using it?” Jackson asked the crowd. “You only have 180 hours in a week, how are you using it?”
While the pair acknowledged the younger generation has grown up with technology and is always connected, they said people should know the time to disconnect.
“Many of us don’t multitask as well as we think we do,” Jackson said.
Some of the students in attendance acknowledged they overuse technology.
“I learned I spent way too much time on social media,” said freshman Tationa Dennard, who attended the event because she is part of SMART Program. “I already have a positive presence on Facebook, but I should separate the personal from the professional.”
Keeping in mind who she accepts as friends as well as what she posts is what Dennard said she would take away from the presentation.
Freshman Danielle Hall said the presenters had a lot of information she didn’t think about, such as how social media can be a distraction.
“More people need to consider how much they use technology,” Hall said. “My phone started ringing in the last minutes of the presentation, but I wanted to pay attention— you have to make that choice between what you are currently doing or something distracting.”
