S2.0 - Be Careful What You Post

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In the bustling city of Hampton, Virginia, Ebony Peoples sat down with her close friend Maria and Maria's daughter, Mia. As the sun streamed through the window, Ebony's wise words about social media filled the room.
 
"Maria," Ebony began, "you know, it's crucial to be mindful of what you post on social media."
 
Maria nodded, intrigued by the topic. "Tell us more, Ebony," she encouraged.
 
Ebony leaned forward, sharing a 2018 BuzzFeed News article written by Rachael Krishna on the screen of her iPad. "Take Naomi, for instance. She was a brilliant young woman who had a NASA internship within her reach. However, she posted vulgar comments on Twitter that quickly caught the attention of her prospective employer. Unfortunately, that post cost her the internship opportunity."
 
Maria gasped in surprise, while Mia looked thoughtful. "Wow, that's incredible," Maria said, shaking her head.
 
Ebony continued, her voice filled with wisdom, "You see, what you post online can have real-life consequences. It's especially important if you ever decide to run for office or work in a political office, like a legislative research assistant. You must ensure people know that your views are your own, not those of your member of Congress. You wouldn't want to put out information that reflects poorly on them, especially if it doesn't align with their stance on certain issues."
 
Mia raised her hand to ask a question. "So, everything you do online can be used against you?"
 
Ebony nodded. "Exactly, Mia. Even posts from many years ago can resurface, so it's essential to be very careful with your content."
 
Maria chimed in, "And what about when you run for office, Ebony?"
 
Ebony smiled warmly. "When you run for office, every single thing you do online can be documented. Someone could dig up posts you made decades ago. Like, I can pull up screen shots of Naomi's posts today that got her fired, even though her original tweet was deleted a long time ago. So, you must always be cautious about what you post."
 
As their conversation continued, Maria and Mia absorbed Ebony's valuable advice about social media. Ebony's story about Naomi served as a powerful reminder that the things shared online can have a lasting impact on one's life and future opportunities.

The Digital Footprint – How your online choices shape your future

✨ Reflect & Write: Reflect on the following prompts and write out your responses.

1. Ebony shared a story about Naomi losing a NASA internship because of a tweet. Why do you think employers care about what people post online? Have you ever posted something you later regretted?
2. Ebony explained that even deleted posts can be found again. How does that make you feel? What types of things would you not want someone to find from your past?
3. Mia asked, “So, everything you do online can be used against you?” Do you think that’s true? Why or why not? What are some online actions that could help your future instead of hurt it?
4. Think about your search history, text messages, emails, and social media posts. Which of these do you think leaves the biggest digital footprint? How can you make smart choices with each one?
5. Ebony talked about running for office one day. If you became a leader, what would you want people to see if they searched for your name online? List three things you want your future online image to say about you.
6. Have you ever seen a post or message from someone else that made you think, “They shouldn’t have shared that”? What was it, and why do you think it wasn’t a good idea?
7. Imagine you’re giving advice to someone younger than you who just joined social media. What are three things you’d tell them about posting, texting, or searching online?

🔎 Search & Discover Activity: What’s Your Digital Trail?

Objective: Explore how digital footprints, deleted posts, and online behaviors can impact educational and career opportunities.

Instructions: Using a search engine like Google or Bing, complete the tasks below. Write your findings in your notebook or digital journal. Make sure you’re using credible sources such as news websites (e.g., NPR, CNN, BBC, The Guardian), educational sites (.edu), or government websites (.gov).

🧭 Part 1: Real-World Consequences
Search This: “People who lost jobs or scholarships because of social media posts”
Tasks:

1. Choose one story of a young person or professional who faced serious consequences due to a social media post.
2. What did they post?
3. What was the result or consequence?
4. What could they have done differently?

🔍 Part 2: What Can Be Found Online? 
Search This: “Can deleted social media posts still be found?”
Tasks:

1. Summarize how deleted posts can still be accessed.
2. What are “screenshots,” “archives,” or “caches”?
3. Why is it important to assume that nothing is ever truly deleted online?

📚 Part 3: Learn the Language
Search and Define:

• Digital footprint
• Online reputation
• Cyber hygiene
• Social media audit

Task: Write each definition in your own words and give one example for each term.

🧠 Part 4: Reflection
Prompt: Based on what you learned today, what changes—if any—will you make to your own online behavior? Write a paragraph reflecting on your research and how it connects to Ebony’s story.