Why You Should Watch What You Say on Social Media
What happens on social media stays on social media.
It’s something our selfie and filter obsessed generation hears all the time, but it doesn't sink in until something bad happens. Sure, posting pictures of your blacked out spring break in Cabo with the caption #freethenipple might seem fun when your friends are commenting, but not so much when your mom… or your boss is.
Social media is a lot like a personal brand. We’ve learned through countless incidents that monitoring what you put out on socially media is extremely important, because anyone can see it. Whatever you tweet or Instagram has your name attached to it, and that makes people think twice about what their saying. At least, we hope it does.
But what about when you remove that aspect? When you take away someone's social media identity, do people still proceed with the same caution?
Based on anonymous social media, the answer is very clear. When you add anonymity to any social media, all hell breaks lose. Unfortunately, the truth is that nothing is really anonymous.
Earlier last week, DPS sent out an email about an incident on every freshman’s favorite app: Yik Yak. Yik Yak is a social media platform where anyone within a certain location can post anonymous messages. One post on the app was reported to DPS because it was "threatening to SU students." Despite how people assume Yik Yak provides anonymity, the individual was identified, arrested, and charged.
Anonymous apps like Yik Yak are only anonymous to a certain point. In other words, don’t use these applications as an outlet for your stupidity just because you think you’ll get away with saying (or doing) something stupid. Many schools have banned Yik Yak after people were threatened and comments got out of hand. If you want Yik Yak to stay on SU's campus, don't abuse it.
Yeti is a new app on the social media scene that’s similar to Snapchat… except on this platform, people are posting photos of pictures of weed and boobs instead of cute puppies and delicious food. When I downloaded Yeti the other day, I actually watched someone snort a line of coke. Hello? Why in the world would anyone want to broadcast illegal activity on a free app that anyone with a smartphone can see? By the way… removing your face from the photo does not make it anonymous.
Anonymous social media platforms are increasingly more popular. And don’t get me wrong, I understand the appeal. But when you realize your life is constantly broadcasted and monitored on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter… you start to miss your privacy.
Just remember, there’s a good chance someone somewhere will figure out who you are if they try hard enough. Don't take the word "anonymous" too literally.