If you are interested in joining a sorority, expect them to check you out online. They aren’t going to be concerned with making sure you have enough followers or that your posts garner enough likes; rather, they will want to see if what you post and share aligns with the values of the sorority.
The Different Platforms
- Twitter: This platform can be set to private, so only your approved followers can see your tweets. If you are not set to private, though, keep in mind that others can see not only what you tweet but also what you reply to others and what tweets you like.
- Instagram: Instagram can also be set to private. Your bio, link, and anyone you have in common will be visible to someone who doesn’t follow you. They will also be able to see the number of accounts you follow, the number of followers you have, and how many posts your account has, but they won’t be able to see any more details than that.
- Facebook: The level of privacy you have on Facebook is much more flexible. Each individual post can be adjusted to a different privacy level.
- LinkedIn: You will want this profile to be visible and professional. This is a great place to naturally highlight your accomplishments and connections without seeming out of place.
- TikTok: Your videos can be viewed to give prospective recruiters an idea about how you act when you aren’t trying to impress them.
This list is not exclusive. There are always going to be more social media platforms that pop up. Whichever ones you join, be conscious about what your accounts look like from the outside in.
How to Keep Your Profile Clean
- Don’t complain on social media. You may have had a fight with your bestie. You may have had a sour interaction with your boss. You may have just had a bad exchange with the barista at Starbucks. Social media is not the place to air these feelings. Venting on the internet, no matter how warranted, will only cast a bad light on you.
- Showcase positive personality traits. Social media doesn’t have to bring out the worst in you; let it shine a light on the good in you. You don’t need to make a post about “The Ten Best Things About Me” or a reel about “Why I Should Be A Delta.” Just keep sharing authentically and positively, with your true self shining through.
- Don’t be fake. While you do want to highlight your positive traits in a natural way, don’t post out-of-character things because you think that’s what you think the sorority wants to see. Still engage on the sites authentically. Just be more conscious of what you post.
- Untag yourself. While you might not have posted any pictures from your last party, it doesn’t mean others didn’t. If you are tagged in unflattering and unbecoming photos, feel free to untag yourself.
- Post only Grandma-approved pics. Your grandma may or may not follow you on Instagram, but keeping the content of your pictures and posts clean enough not to make her squirm is a good rule of thumb. Any pictures depicting drinking, explicit content, drug use, or anything else offensive should not be tied to you on social media.
- You can share your views, but keep them professional and appropriate.
- Don’t be intimidated and delete all your profiles. This can look like you have something to hide. Make sure your profile is current and updated (especially on LinkedIn).
People aren’t checking out your social media to dig dirt on you as much as they are trying to understand who you are and see if you would be a good fit for the organization.
Future Social Media Usage
Keep this up after you join, too. Your standing in this new organization might be at stake if you violate any rules.
These tips are also helpful as you apply for jobs. Social media screening is becoming more popular among employers to gain a bigger picture of the applicants they are interviewing.
For all future posts: remember that the internet is forever. Even if you delete a post, you can’t control how many people took a screenshot of it before it disappeared, and you have no control over how those screenshots may circulate. Be purposeful with what you post (and don’t post).
Whenever you post something wearing DST paraphernalia, remember the organization you are representing, and act accordingly.
Be conscious of what you send or how you comment, too. Cyberbullying is serious, and most organizations have rules against it.
What About Anonymous Accounts?
Is it possible that you have an account that isn’t immediately traceable to you? Sure. Should you feel free to post harassing, explicit, or trolling comments or posts because you used a handle and not your real name? You might want to think carefully about that, sis.
It might be harder for your ex’s new fling to figure out who you are and stalk you with an anonymous account, but it is not impossible for a digital forensic investigator to trace things back to you.
The worst case scenario, if you have an anonymous account, would be “doxxing,” where internet vigilantes post your personal information for anyone to see, and then anything you posted hoping for anonymity could be shared with your school, sorority, or employer. This could have damaging consequences. Your best bet is to not post, share, or send anything through an anonymous account that you would be ashamed to have associated with an account in your name.
Take a minute to clean up your social media presence, and use those platforms to share some light. The world needs your beautiful face, mind and soul in it.