Why it’s high time to conduct a personal social media audit

We’ve all said or done things we bitterly regret.

Unfortunately, we live in an era marked by the ability to instantaneously upload our rashest, rawest, most questionable hot takes for all the world to see. Once you hit “publish,” it’s out there, and there it shall remain. Don’t for a second think that “deleting” is a foolproof remedy.

Perhaps you have a cache of old jokes or blog posts that have aged poorly. Maybe you uploaded photos from a bawdy night out way back in 2013—or perchance you spent your formative days on Twitter ranting about less-than-edifying subject matter. Either way, it’s wise to regularly perform personal social media content audits.

Here are three things to keep in mind as you consider this important topic.

1. Don’t post (or “like”) questionable material.

Obviously, the best way to prevent having historical misdeeds come back to bite you is to not post (or “like”) naughty things in the first place. Err on the side of silence. Be boring, if you must.