With the age of social media, privacy has evolved incredibly in the past decade as millions of people have their own public profiles. What many people don’t know is how these social media profiles affect opportunities for colleges and jobs.

“Colleges definitely look at student profiles before admission now, especially with athletic coaches looking at student leaders. Certain scholarships that the colleges provide may also require a check up on their profiles. These check-ups can factor into the recruitment that the college is looking for,” said school counselor Jamie McKenna.

Articles have come out in recent time on how one’s social media profiles may affect admission into a dream school. One article by “Princeton Review” states that “in recent years, students have faced disciplinary consequences for using offensive language and images in private group chats—including having admissions decisions reversed”.

“I know that background checks do take place before a job hires you, but personally I trust the teachers that come to me to have appropriate profiles. My decision to hire someone to work for our school has never been based on social media checks as I trust them from the interviews we share,” said District 127 director of human resources Danielle Carter.

In terms of jobs looking at profiles before they hire anyone, a recent study from a background check site concluded that, ”typically, employers undertaking social media background checks will search Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other online profiles to try to get a better sense of who a job candidate is. In some cases, social media background checks can be an honest means of learning more about job candidates or networking with them.”

“As technology has advanced, so has privacy. I tell students to post things on social media that they’d be okay with their grandma seeing. There’s really nothing to be worried about as long as they’re mindful of what they post,” Carter said.

“Coaches will make bold statements about students’ profiles on platforms such as Twitter. Student leaders and athletes are under closer watch as what they say or post represents their school as well,” McKenna said.

A student or someone looking to be hired for a job shouldn’t be worried about getting into their dream school or job as long as they realize how serious the things they say on social media can be .

Further research from “Trusted Employee” stated that, ”employees who post offensive messages on social media damage your company’s image. In Philadelphia, 13 police officers were fired after posting offensive comments on social media. These messages seriously harmed the police force’s reputation. Locals began to question whether they could trust police officers to protect them. In a race to protect their companies, 70 percent of employers check their candidates’ social media before they hire.”

Offensive language on social media posts or inappropriate content are one of the main factors that would stop someone from getting into a job or college. This continues on the job, as countless people have been resigned for those same reasons. As long as mindfulness is practiced in the world of your social media posts, this shouldn’t be an issue to worry about when getting ready for your dream future.