Category Archives: social networks

What Lessons Can Your Teen Learn from the 2016 Election?

November 8, 2016 Suzanne Shaffer

This has been an emotionally charged 2016 election process. Most of us are ready for all of it to be over—from the talking heads, to the vicious mud-slinging, to the hate speak on social media. But within every negative experience, there are always teaching moments for our children.

At some point, your student will be leaving home for college as an adult. Before she goes, use this election to discuss some key values in hopes she will take them with her. These values are more important than grades, essays, and college applications.

Don’t exaggerate, bloviate, or inflate

My how both candidates have ranted, yelled, name-called and gone on and on without saying anything relevant. We’ve heard lies from both sides and attempts to cover them up or minimize them. The lesson here is simple: speak the truth. Use your words to “say what you mean and mean what you say”.

Social media is a game changer

This election has been driven by social media. Tweets from both candidates and from Wikileaks, blasting one another on Facebook, posting videos, newspaper articles, and memes about each of the candidates. If you think no one pays attention to what you post, think again. This election was played out online this time and could very well be won or lost because of it.

The poor choices you make always have consequences

Each candidate has been embarrassed by some of the poor choices they made in the past. Their actions came back to haunt them. Their choices had consequences. This is perhaps the most important lesson to teach your college-bound teen—think before you act. Are you willing to accept the consequences of your actions?

Think before you post, tweet or email

Everything, and I mean everything, you put online will come back to haunt you. Social media is your resume and everyone is reading it—college admissions officers, future employers, family, and friends. Before you hit the “submit” button, consider the ramifications of what you are saying.

Respect has to be earned

The country has little respect for either candidate. This is an election where most people will tell you they are choosing the “lesser of two evils.” Respect is earned when you exhibit truthful, honest, moral behavior, kindness to others, and respect for authority. You have to earn respect by your actions.

And lastly, “decisions are made by those who show up”.

Harry Truman said, “Decisions are made by those who show up.” Teach your children that voting is a crucial freedom and they should exercise their right to vote in every election. And once the decision has been made, they can rest assured they did their part to express what they feel and believe.

social networks

Social Media is Your Resume

November 7, 2016 Suzanne Shaffer

HubSpot recently published their 2016 Social Media Conduct eBook based on a recent studies on social media conduct. The study focused on employers and their use of social media. This applies to college applicants as well, hoping to be admitted to a college or university based on their resume. The bad news for some, according to HubSpot, is “social media is your resume”.

______________________

According to a survey by careerbuilder.com, 41% of employers say they are less likely to interview job candidates if they are unable to find information about that person online. Job seekers should think of social media as an integral piece of their resumes and each should use social media to establish and showcase his or her personal brand. Employers aren’t necessarily scanning your social media profiles to look for problems, they’re looking for insight into how you’re living your day to day life. Val Matta, vice president of business development at CareerShift, describes it like this:

“What candidates do in their spare time and broadcast to the world through social media speaks volumes about their personal values and culture. The hiring manager knows that, in hiring that person, they’ll likely bring those values and culture into the office. So it must align with, or contribute positively to, the organization’s current culture.”

There are some positive aspects to the trend of connecting social media to employment. According to Jobvite, one in three employers who research candidates on social media have found content that made them more likely to hire a candidate. And, 23% found content that directly led to hiring the candidate. The trick is, then, to not avoid social media, but to be on social media and be thoughtful about what you post.

Your social media profiles, or lack thereof, tell employers so much about you. JobVite found that 55% of recruiters have reconsidered candidates based on their social media profiles. 61% of those reconsiderations were negative. That means 39% were positive. Those who got a positive reconsideration likely put some care and consideration into their personal brand. Make sure you’re controlling your personal brand and building up your social media profiles so they tell your story the way you want it to be told.

Related: Social Media: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Facebook Privacy Pitfalls

In an article called “Watch Your Mouth on Social Media,” Scott Kleinberg, nationally syndicated columnist and the former social media editor at the Chicago Tribune, wrote:

“I read a story not too long ago where someone tired of being the subject of abusive Facebook comments reached out and complained to that person’s boss. The company subsequently fired the person.” How did that happen? Kleinberg explains: “Your place of employment shows up next to your name on a Facebook comment when a website uses the Facebook commenting plug-in. So if you’ve ever seen a story online and noticed the comments look like Facebook, that’s why. But even outside of the plug-in, hovering over your name or anyone else’s name on Facebook proper can reveal the same information.”

“Nine times out of 10, what you say is being read by a much wider audience and information about the person saying it is more widely shared than you’d ever imagine.”

The advice in Mr. Kleinberg’s article is a must-read for anyone who uses social media.

Harsh Judgements

A social media page that makes your life look like a non-stop party is probably going to be judged harshly.

A study conducted by North Carolina State University concluded that:

A lot of employers and companies don’t really understand online behavior and many Facebook users aren’t getting hired as a result…Companies often scan a job applicant’s Facebook profile to see whether there is evidence of drug or alcohol use, believing that such behavior means the applicant is not ‘conscientious,’ or responsible and self-disciplined. However, the researchers found no significant correlation between conscientiousness and an individual’s willingness to post content on Facebook about alcohol or drug use. Will Stoughton, Ph.D. and lead author of the paper added, “This means companies are eliminating some conscientious job applicants based on erroneous assumptions regarding what social media behavior tells us about the applicants.”

Slang and Text Speak

The use of internet slang, texting language, poor grammar and misspellings is ubiquitous on social media and can signify poor communication skills. According to careerbuilder.com 29% of employers do not like to see posts that demonstrate poor communication skills.

Though 29% of employers are turned off by poor communication skills, the careerbuilder.com survey also found that 37% are more likely to hire a candidate whose social media profiles indicate great communication skills.

So, a serious job candidate who showcases his or her strong communication skills by submitting a professional resume undermines that effort when his or her social profiles are littered with internet slang, poor grammar, and misspellings.

It may not be a bad idea to keep up with trending internet slang words because today’s teenagers will soon be in charge. Gavin Hammar, CEO of Sendible.com, believes that “As this language becomes more allowed in educational settings, it will leave a lasting impact on the future generations. The young adults that are in high school right now are being directly affected by social media slang. These are the same people that will become the next business professionals, politicians and leaders of our world.”

Bottom line: if your student is applying to college and wants to be gainfully employed after graduation, it’s a good idea for them to “mind their manners” on social media.

social networks

What Is Your Teen Doing Online?

February 9, 2016 Suzanne Shaffer

The best thing about the internet is a wealth of information available at your fingertips for college prep. You can find college advice, testing help, college visit information, financial aid information and everything you need to know about individual colleges. But with every good thing, there are dangers lurking in the shadows. Researching college topics is good, other social media activities might not be as safe–what is your teen doing online?

My grandsons are already familiar with their parents’ smartphones. My 5 year old grandson can access games, turn Netflix on and off, and use Facetime on his own. My 2 year old grandson knows that the phone gets him access to cartoons anywhere, anytime. I can’t imagine what it will be like when they both become teenagers because it’s a very scary online world. If you don’t believe so, read this article from Smart College Visit: A Parent’s Greatest Fear.

The Liahona Academy did some real research about teen’s online activity on social media. Based on this information, if you aren’t taking an active role in your teen’s online life you are burying your head in the sand. Years ago teens snuck out of the house to engage in risky behavior. Today it’s easier than it has ever been with the use of a smartphone to hide online activity from parents.

If you don’t believe me, here are some sobering statistics from the above mentioned study:

55% of teens have given out personal info to someone they don’t know
29% of teens have been stalked or contacted by a stranger
29% of teens have participated in cyber bullying
24% of teens have had private or embarrassing info made public without permission
22% have been cyberpranked

and…

Only 34% of parents check their teen’s social network sites

Are those stats cause for concern? Based on these responses those stats should be:

67% of teenagers say they know how to hide what they do online from their parents
43% of teens say they would change their online behavior if they knew that their parents were watching them
39% think their online activity is private from everyone, including parents
20% of teens think their parents have no idea what they are doing online
18% have created a private email address or separate social networking profile
10% have unlocked parental controls to disable filtering

and…

38% would feel offended if they found out their parents were spying on them with parental controls

It’s time for parents to wake up. It’s no longer acceptable to ignore your teen’s online activity.. They may be the best behaved, best mannered and most respectful teenagers. But there is a world out there full of online predators waiting to pounce on naive teens who post on social media.

What social media tools are teens using?

Twitter
Facebook
Pinterst
Pheed
YouTube
Kik
4chan
Askfm
Vine
Tumblr
Snapchat
Instagram

For more information about each of these and how they pose a threat to your teenager, you can access the infographic here: What Your Teen is Doing on Social Media. The infographic also provides information on how to get involved, how to monitor online activity, how teens hide their browser activity from their parents, and most importantly, some monitoring tools for parents. Parents will also find 10 Online Activities Every Parent Needs to Talk About With Their Teens.

This is one of the most concise and helpful infographic I have seen informing parents about online activity and giving tools to help them monitor it. You wouldn’t allow a predator or stranger in your home, don’t let it happen on social media.

college planning, college prep, social networks

10 Twitter Chats for College Prep Success

December 8, 2015 Suzanne Shaffer 1 Comment

With today’s technology, information is everywhere–from blogs, to social media, to college websites. But when you’re looking for information wouldn’t it be great to actually SPEAK with the experts and ask questions for FREE?

That’s what Twitter chats can do for you. Experts in the area of college prep gather together on Twitter during Twitter chats to provide you with the most up-t0-date information on the college application process.

#CampusChat—Wednesdays 1PM ET
#CollegeCash—Thursdays 8PM ET
#CollegeChat—Tuesdays 9PM ET
#ChatCollege—check schedule here http://collegeapptraining.com/chatcollege/
#KidsCollegeChat—follow @GiftofCollege for future chat dates and times or type in the hashtag on Twitter
#InsightChat–Sundays 9PM ET
#FirstGenOfficeHour Thursdays 7PM ET
#FAchat-2nd Tuesday of each month 12-1PM CST
#edchat-Tuesdays 12PM and 7PM ET (http://rossieronline.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/edchat-resource-guide5.pdf)
#EMchat-Thursdays 9PM ET http://www.emchat.net

For those of you who are new to Twitter chats, #SEOChat has a very good explanation of how they work, how to participate and even some good resources to search for more chats. But here are a few simple instructions:

Mark the chat date on your calendar and set a reminder so you don’t forget
Follow the chat’s hashtag on Twitter by using programs like Hootsuite, Twitter Chat or TweetChat. These programs help you keep the conversation in one place and make it easier to respond.
Follow the feed and ask questions if you are unclear about something. If it isn’t answered in the chat, feel free to DM the moderator or guest after the chat is over. Sometimes chats can be a bit chaotic if there are many attendees.
Favorite any tweets with links or information you feel will be helpful to research after the chat.

Chat times and dates change, but if you follow their Twitter feed you will be notified of any date and time changes.

Still not convinced these chats are worth you time? Check out my post: Why you should attend Twitter chats.

admissions, college guidance, college planning, social networks

Mom-Approved Tips: Dressing Up for a College

October 27, 2014 Suzanne Shaffer

When my kids were little, Halloween was for them. They dressed up in costumes and went trick or treating door to door. My how times have changed. It’s become a family event. Parties are planned, events are scheduled for the kids, and parents get involved in the festivities. Dressing up is part of the fun and also a necessary component of the Halloween celebration.

When applying to colleges, “dressing up” for a college is more than fun–it’s necessary. What do I mean when I talk about dressing up for a college?

Show interest

Colleges want to know you are interested in attending. They don’t want to be just another name on your college list. They want to know that if you apply, and are offered admission, there is a good chance you will accept and attend. You can show interest by taking an official campus tour, connecting on social media, and meeting with admissions officer for an interview. Colleges keep track of how many times you have showed interest.

Market yourself

You’re basically saying “pick me” to the colleges. Although you are the consumer, the ball is in their court for the first phase of this process. Take every opportunity to market yourself to them. They want to know you and see what you have to offer their college community.

Make a positive impression on social media

Use all avenues of social media positively. Post pictures of your volunteer activities on Facebook and Instagram. Converse with colleges on Twitter. Set up a profile on LinkedIn and connect with colleges there. The key word here is POSITIVE.

Unlike Halloween, you do not want to wear a costume and pretend to be someone you are not. Colleges want to see the real you underneath the costume, not a version of a person you think they want to see.

careers, social networks

Using Social Media to Find a Job

September 9, 2014 Suzanne Shaffer

These days the recruitment process has moved online, which includes a shift to social media. Not only do employers browse social profiles when deciding who to interview, they’ll also use social channels to advertise opportunities. This media can help you or it can hinder you when trying to land that dream job, whether it’s for a learning mentor or a care worker, marketing professional or a skill tradesperson. Here’s how:

Private versus Public

There’s a strong chance employers will try to learn more about you via your social media profiles. For this reason, your public profile should convey the right impression. If anyone and everyone can view your Facebook or Twitter profile pictures, make sure they’re professional. Pictures that reveal aspects of your private life show you drinking excessive amounts of alcohol or generally just clowning around are best reserved for friends only. This also applies to the information you choose to publicly display on your social profiles. Do you want potential employers to be able to see your relationship status, the bands you like or even your birthday? If there’s any information you don’t feel entirely comfortable with employers seeing, switch your settings to private.

An opportunity to network

Many companies use social media to head hunt as well as recruit. Setting up a professional profile can get you noticed. At the same time, you don’t have to wait for employers to approach you. LinkedIn is an excellent networking tool and there’s no harm in trying to connect with companies or organisations you might like to work for in the future.

Creating the right impression

There are, of course, social profiles you might want potential employers to see. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you’re likely to use it to network and hunt for jobs. This makes it essential for your profile to create the right impression. Choose a professional-looking photo. If in doubt, ask a (trusted) friend or family member which photo to use. You should also update your profile regularly, ensuring it showcases your talents and experience. List all of your skills and try to get LinkedIn references from past employers. Your social profile could be your first impression—and you won’t get the chance to make another one.

Employers advertise through social media

Advertising positions online is commonplace nowadays. As well as updating their website with job details, many employers add vacancies to their social media feeds. If you want to be amongst the first to know when new jobs come up, connect with employers you might like to work for via their primary social channels. LinkedIn is particularly useful because you can receive email updates of jobs in your sector. Some sites are even area-specific, such as S1Jobs, and following their social feeds you can plan your next career move within a particular part of the country. Perhaps you’d like to work with children and young people by becoming a learning mentor. You could use social media to showcase your experience to potential employers and hunt for jobs.

Whatever career path you want to follow, social media can help you land that dream job if you use it wisely. Make sure all the public information you display gives the best impression.

Guest Posts, social networks

Mom-Approved Tips: Teaching Your Kids to Respect Themselves Online

August 11, 2014 Suzanne Shaffer 1 Comment

Today, teaching your teens to respect themselves online is just as important as any other life lesson and when college is on the horizon, it is more essential than ever. Gone are the simple nuggets of advice which our parents put so much weight on; now it takes a steadfast determination to somehow get across what many teens think they already know.

Teaching the potential pitfalls of social media communication requires determination, cleverness, reverse psychology, and, if need be, tough love.

Watch the Traps

Social media strips away the ability to tune into someone’s social clues. Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair, a clinical psychologist and author of The Big Disconnect comments,

“In a way, texting and online communicating puts everybody in a nonverbal disabled context, where body language, facial expression, and even the smallest kinds of vocal reactions are rendered invisible.”

Because of this, there are many possible pitfalls your teen can fall into without them even knowing it. These pitfalls can manifest into adversely affecting their self-esteem, confidence, and overall self-respect. Some of these to watch for and discuss include:

Impostor Syndrome – Because image is so important to teens, it isn’t uncommon for them to create faux and/or multiple online personas. Talk with them about true identity and online identity, being sure to make them think about the difference between the two.
Stalking – It’s easy to annoy people online, but not only can it rapidly degenerate one’s reputation it can, in extreme cases, like cyber bullying, turn illegal. In addition, the hyper connection that kids have been living with could turn them into a recluse during college. Practice digital breaks and discuss how digitally harassing someone only creates unnecessary anxiety for both parties.
The Record – Sexting, private pictures/videos, and dangerous language are only a few of the traps that teens can slip into, especially once on their own at school. If your child doesn’t already know that every single thing they do on their computer is recorded, they should be told. Nothing can be deleted without a professional IT swipe and if something is emailed or texted, it is out there forever. A bad online decision, for any reason, can throw a teen into such a depressing funk that gaining back their self-respect may be a real uphill battle.

Helpful Apps

Thankfully, the digital universe is not all that bad and when it comes to teaching your teens to respect themselves online, a variety of available apps may help. Before they head to college, offer to buy or download apps that address:

Fitness– The “freshman fifteen” is a common term tossed around college campuses, but it needn’t apply to your child. There are great apps to track daily fitness and help your child maintain their weight and inevitably their self-respect.
Affirmations – A daily pop up quoting a positive affirmation may be just what your teen needs during the trials and tribulations of college life.
Life Coach– Yes, there are digital life coach apps that can assist your child with life problems they may not want to discuss with you.
Books – They’re still around, just not the tangible kind. Send them off with a downloaded book or two that you feel may help them keep their chin up.

Stay Connected

Stay connected, not with a device but with your heart. As cliché as that may sound, the Child Mind Institute describes some good habits to boost your teens digital self-respect,

“Establish technology-free zones in the house and technology-free hours when no one uses the phone, including mom and dad.”

Dr. Steiner-Adair advises,

“Give them your full attention until they’re out the door. And neither of you should be using phones in the car to or from school because that’s an important time to talk.”

Keep teaching your teens to respect themselves online and once they start college they’ll hopefully have a good foundation to beth them through unscathed.

_____________________________

Today’s guest post is from Tara Heath, a journalist in Southern California. As a mom of two teens, college is on the horizon and she is constantly looking for ways to teach her kids the importance of using the internet and social media wisely.

social networks, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: Teen Social Media Lifestyles and Outcomes

May 28, 2014 Suzanne Shaffer 2 Comments

Social media is the malt shop of the 50’s, the drive-in movies of the 60’s and 70’s, the mall of the 80’s and 90’s. Today it’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube, SnapChat and Vine. Kids aren’t tethered to physical hangouts any longer. They can gather, communicate and share their life experiences on social media. This makes it easier to make friends and expand your circle, but it is a double-edged sword. It’s not just your friends that see what you say and do, it’s anyone with a computer or smartphone and an internet connection.

A new study from Kaplan has found that 31% of college admission officers check social media to see if an applicant would make a good fit at their educational institution. That number is up by 5% from last year.

Here are four teenage archetypes, their social media lifestyles, and how social media might affect their college admissions chances:

The Garbage in-Garbage Out Teen

She posts every single thought that comes into her head. The picture she paints in social media with her posts, tweets, videos and photos isn’t a true picture is not very appealing. She posts tacky photos, uses foul language, and blasts anyone and everyone who dares to challenge her. It’s not a pretty picture and certainly not one that would be appealing to colleges.

Why? Take the high school student, for example, that posted on her Twitter account that the info session at a particular college was lame and used the college’s hashtag when doing it. She was probably just trying to be cute and post a comment that would get a response from her followers. But guess what? It came back to bite her—ADMISSION DENIED!

The Teen Braggart

This guy loves to bloviate. He brags about his conquests, his love life, his hook ups and just about every other thing he does in high school. He’s full of himself and everyone knows it. Nobody believes anything he says and everyone ignores most of what he posts. This can translate into a “hot air” admissions applicant.

Why? Colleges are looking for students with substance and credibility. They check social media to verify what’s submitted in an application. If this guy follows his pattern, his application will be as much bull as his posts and colleges will catch him in lie after lie. The results—ADMISSION DENIED!

The Teen Seeking Popularity

This teen wants more than anything to be popular. She posts pictures all kinds of questionable behavior. She comments on other posts and pictures just to boost her popularity. She counts the number of likes her photos receive on Instagram and tweets get retweeted on Twitter. She’ll find the most outrageous thinks to upload to Instagram and her YouTube videos are an effort to gain popularity among her peer group. This might pose a problem when applying to college?

Why? Colleges want to know the “real” you, not someone you think people want you to be. This type of behavior tends to conflict with a student who is pursuing academic excellence. Wrong picture = ADMISSION DENIED!

The College-Bound Teen

This guy has it together. He knows that what he posts in social media is a direct reflection on his character and his goals and aspirations. He knows that if he wants to paint an accurate picture, his posts should line up with his resume. If he talks about volunteering in the summer, he knows that he should post pictures on Instagram of that activity. If he discusses his strong commitment to academics, he knows that he shouldn’t tweet about hating school. He respects authority and communicates that in social media. Colleges look favorably on this type of student.

Why? A student who demonstrates strong character and has consistent image in social media shows colleges that he is the real deal. The result—ADMITTED!

As social media continues to be a platform students use for communication, colleges will turn to it more and more for additional information about the applicants.

Ready Wendy’s post: Making Social Media Work for You

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Tonight’s #CampusChat at 9PM ET addresses social media and how it affects the college application process. Join me (@suzanneshaffer) and Wendy (@pocsmomhttp) as we host our monthly #WednesdaysParent with guest Alan Katzman of Social Assurity (@socialassurity), a company founded to help parents and teens evaluate and correct their social media presence before applying to college.

_______________________________________________________

Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Wendy and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

The bonus is on the fourth Wednesday of each month when Wendy and I will host Twitter chat #CampusChat at 9pm ET/6pm PT. We will feature an expert on a topic of interest for parents of the college-bound.

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from parentingforcollege to pocsmom.com and vice versa.

social networks, Uncategorized

25 School Counselors to Follow on Twitter

May 22, 2014 Suzanne Shaffer 1 Comment

School counselors often get a bad rap when it comes to college prep. But here are 25 school counselors to follow on Twitter who are committed to students and helping parents.

@AllCollegePlan http://www.twitter.com/allcollegeplan
@jacketcounselor http://www.twitter.com/jacketcounselor
@bmhscounselors http://www.twitter.com/bmhscounselors
@rosEcounselor http://www.twitter.com/rosecounselor
@PHSCouns http://www.twitter.com/phscouns
@MrsBoisvertLHS https://twitter.com/MrsBoisvertLHS
@wohlcounselor http://www.twitter.com/wohlcounselor
@EagleGuidance http://www.twitter.com/eagleguidance
@ecmmason http://www.twitter.com/ecmmason
@MrLinhartTweets http://www.twitter.com/mrlinharttweets
@LovelyLysa http://www.twitter.com/lovelylysa
@juliavtaylor http://www.twitter.com/juliavtaylor
@MrJGoldman http://www.twitter.com/mrjgoldman
@mkelley723 http://www.twitter.com/mkelley723
@foustytouton http://www.twitter.com/foustytouton
@CounselingGeek http://www.twitter.com/counselinggeek
@vernondavemack http://www.twitter.com/vernondavemack
@mertensminute http://www.twitter.com/mertensminute
@conniemward http://www.twitter.com/conniemward
@CounselorBDavis http://www.twitter.com/counselorbdavis
@SSpellmanCann http://www.twitter.com/sspellmancann
@rawolfson http://www.twitter.com/rawolfson
@PhilEchols http://www.twitter.com/philechols
@Missy_VanAnda http://www.twitter.com/missy_vananda
@eschcounselor http://www.twitter.com/eschcounselor

. . . and follow @SCCrowd (http://www.twitter.com/sccrowd) and attend the #SCCrowd Twitter chat at 8PM ET on the 3rd Tuesday of every month to ask any question you might have for a counselor.

Here are 3 ways #SCCrowd works:

Post a question anytime of day or night to #sccrowd especially on the day of the chat
Answer others questions anytime if you can
Join the chat the third Tuesday of the month

Don’t exaggerate, bloviate, or inflate

Social media is a game changer

The poor choices you make always have consequences

Think before you post, tweet or email

Respect has to be earned

And lastly, “decisions are made by those who show up”.

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Facebook Privacy Pitfalls

Harsh Judgements

Slang and Text Speak

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Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

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Show interest

Market yourself

Make a positive impression on social media

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The Garbage in-Garbage Out Teen

The Teen Braggart

The Teen Seeking Popularity

The College-Bound Teen

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Helping parents navigate the college maze