What images do the words “college life” conjure up for you? Parties, late nights and drinking games? Television, music videos and the Internet all perpetuate these college stereotypes. The away-from-home-craziness tradition has been popular for several generations, and some parents may have memories of their own that they’re happy to leave in the past. But for the Net Generation, what happens in the dorms may not stay there. Thanks to camera phones, social networks and the Internet, those embarrassing, reputation-ruining moments may be captured forever in cyberspace and viewed by millions.
Employers now routinely check social networking Web sites and run applicants’ names through search engines as part of the hiring process. They assess an applicant’s character and judgment by looking at how they represent themselves online. Along with impulsively posting their own escapades on the Internet, your college student might find that the risky antics he or she may not even remember could be posted online by someone else. With the click of a mouse, your child’s job prospects may be compromised.
What do you need to know as parents? First, I’ll explain why young people behave recklessly while in college, and then I'll offer some tips for talking to your kids about the potentially serious and long-term ramifications of posting such material online.
NOTE: Qwest is providing the above information as a customer service for educational purposes only. Qwest assumes no liability for the use of this information and does not guarantee that following the recommendations provided will prevent fraud.
