I live in the generation of social media, where having a Snapchat is a must and the phrase “pics or it didn’t happen” is the motto fueling posts on Instagram.

We make sure all of our followers know that we are enjoying our perfectly swirled coffee, watching the sun set over our backyard, and even partying with friends. We make sure our followers know we have a life outside of school. Sometimes we take it too far, not realizing what we post may be incriminating, but who cares anyway when we have our parents blocked, right?

Wrong. Employers and even some colleges may research applicants’ social media to make the final decision on whether to hire or accept them. They often see it as is simply another way of gathering more information about your personality and interests that may not have come up on the application. Sometimes this hunt for who you are may be as elementary as a google search.

The further you find yourself in the admissions process, the more likely it becomes that you will be looked up. More often than not there is no extra hunt at all because it can be seen as an invasion of privacy or just an inaccurate view of a person. Unfortunately if there is that extra background check, what you post is almost never what gets you into college or hired to that job; it’s what keeps you out.

So if you would not willingly hand your phone over to a potential employer or college admissions board to scroll through your Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook; go ahead and turn the  privacy settings on, filter the pictures you are tagged in, and even rename your username to something a bit more family-friendly.

Social media doesn’t always have to have a negative effect if you use it right. For example, filtering what you post and choosing to post more about political issues and personal interests can both make you look well-versed and show who you are. If you are looking for a job or internship, there are social media platforms specifically designed for proving to an employer what a reputable hire you would be such as LinkedIn. The same goes for students applying to college with the forum ZeeMee.

When it comes to your future, whether it be employment or schooling, it is better to be safe than sorry.