Are you doing enough to help your children develop a positive online presence?

Online profiles are part of your child’s portfolio and can be reviewed by teachers, college admission officers and employers.  Children now have online reputations that follow them through their young years.   Many children like to post information about themselves online. In addition, peers frequently post information and photos about their friends.

Many parents do not realize that it is essential for their children to maintain a positive online presence. To prevent anyone from posting negative information about your child, it is wise to take precautionary steps.

Here are some helpful tips in protecting your child’s online identity:

• Purchase the domain name of your child and help build a personal website.  Just reserving the domain is enough if your child is very young. This is generally cost-effective and can create positive online exposure.

• Have your child use their actual name on Social Media websites: Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Twitter. Even if your child does not use Social Media sites, understand that by reserving their domain name, no one else can.

• Search your child’s name online.  You may be surprised to find websites where their name is present. Show your children what you find and if necessary, take steps to remove their name.

Job seekers and college applicants can make their social media presence advantageous! Assisting your child in creating their digital footprint can make them stand out in an increasingly competitive college admission and employment arena. Many employers and college admission officers use social media when evaluating their applicants. If your child understands how to maximize his/her online presence, it can help them obtain a job or gain acceptance into their top choice college.

Below are some ways your children can use the Internet to stand out positively for employers and college admissions representatives:

• “Liking” a specific college and or company on Facebook
• “Following” a college and or company on Twitter
• Creating and updating a blog
•  Making a video application
•  Posting data on their personal url/domain name website

Both the employment marketplace and the college application process are increasingly viral. When evaluating applicants, employers and college admission officers will be asking questions to learn whether your child is a good match for their company and/or college. Help your child take the necessary steps and make sure their online presence remains positive and impressive.

AUTHOR OVERVIEW

Parenting Today's Kids

Tags: digital footprint, helping kid get into collges, how social media can affect your kid's chances of getting into college, online reputation, protecting kids online