As I had said in class, YOU are the one responsible for the way you portray yourself online, whether it's on Facebook, Twitter, etc. If you are doing something questionable (and of your own choosing, especially), then you should know how to gauge its internet-appropriateness. If you're a preschool teacher, you probably can deduce that it's a poor idea to post pictures from last night's rager. I'd like to think that companies have a right to check a prospective employee's Facebook so that can maybe get a better idea as to who they're hiring. If they have a picture of them-self with a pound of weed, then you probably don't want them to work for you, and you found out ahead of time!
Now I know that some will argue that it's a free country and that people should be able to post whatever they want, whenever they want. My response to that? Cool, go ahead! But if you know it may tarnish your reputation or get you in trouble, then either don't post it or make your account private. Professor Macek even brought up the idea of having two separate accounts, one for work and one for your personal life. That's a phenomenal idea.
All I'm saying is that if you want to post something that might be seen in a negative light, just know how to keep it contained or private. That's precisely why all of my social media accounts are private and I only allow certain people to connect with me. I don't do anything questionable, but I just feel better knowing that I can let myself speak about my character and qualifications rather than my Facebook page.
Ultimately it is up to the individual to exercise discernment in what they post to their social network, but the issue is not what you post, but the overreaching hand of institutions (employers and what not) that are undermining our privacy.
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