Recently, I have heard news about a video circulating that had very disturbing content. It was a rockstar who streamed his own death on Facebook live. I had the good sense not to search for or watch the video because, seriously, that is the decent thing to do. It is the way we show our sincere condolences (even if we do not know the person) to those he has left behind.

News followed that the family has requested with great pain to take down all instances of the circulating video. Nobody would want a loved one’s death to be entertainment fodder for other people. Time and again, people get into trouble because of sensitive internet posts. If we can all take the time to reflect before we post anything online – then maybe the internet wouldn’t be such a dangerous and scary place.

In light of this, here are some guidelines on responsible internet posting:

Is it my photo or is it from/of someone else?
You can either get an angry message from the owner of the photo or get serious charges for copyright infringement (or a stern takedown notice at the very least). So before you post anything, ask yourself if it is yours to post. If it is a group picture, ask your friends if they want it posted. And always ask a parent if it’s ok to post a picture of their kid. There are predators online that could take advantage of this.

Is it a good photo?
Does it contain explicit material? Is it suitable for viewing if you saw it at work? Would it promote good feelings or would it promote anger, violence, racism, or apathy? Will seeing it make people feel good or elicit good responses? Some posts inspire good feelings – feelings like love, wealth, health, and a sense of community. Others promote violence and anger. Which feelings will your post promote?

Could it get someone in trouble?
Sure, it’s funny posting a picture of your hammered friend sleeping on the bathroom floor. But stop to think if they could get in trouble for that post. A coworker, boss, or parent could see. It is not fair to project them in an unflattering and compromising light.

Is it going to cause drama?
Your controversial political post could elicit a lot of likes – from like-minded friends – but it might also cause a great divide. I’ve seen friends and family unfriend each other on political issues. Unless it is a fair and inclusive discussion, then it’s probably a good idea to talk about it in private, amongst friends and family, and not publish your thoughts out on the internet for all to see – and judge.

Am I aware that anyone can share it?
Check your settings people – be careful who gets share access to your posts and pictures.

Would I be okay with my Grandma seeing it?
If the answer is NO, then don’t.

A year from now, will I feel good about making it public?
We all say stupid things when we’re young, uninformed, or don’t know better. People forgive, but it’s hard to forget when it becomes available online for all eternity. Remember, everything you put out on the internet gets stored on servers somewhere – forever.

Be careful about what you share. Remember to stay humble and hustle hard.

 

Written by Jaie O. The Help