<p>I am not inappropriate but I have some photos that I would not like them to see. I have used profanity and made comments on youtube videos, Facebook, and inappropriate jokes. Like, on social media, I feel like I can say what ever I want.
So how these colleges track you down? Why would they waste time? Is it only small colleges that do that? What if I just delete my old photos or should I terminate my whole account rather?
I'm a high school senior, who will be applying to colleges soon. I have good academic standards, community service, and well test scores, etc. But unfortunately, this media track down is getting to extreme, that you hear so many cases of it. </p>
<p>Colleges do not look at social media in most cases- that’s a myth. Some will look at social media if they get a tip from someone about something inappropriate on your account. You do not need to delete your account. Profanity should not be a problem, same with inappropriate jokes. You can change the settings on your account so that only your friends can see things on your page.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t deactivate your whole account, and honestly, as long as colleges don’t find any pictures of you with a beer funnel rammed down your throat in full KKL garb, I don’t think they really hold it against you. If you’d rather be safe than sorry though, you can either change the name associated with your profile (as in changing it from your first and last name to first name and middle name), or if the offending material is limited, you could just go through and delete those posts/make them private. Really your call. </p>
<p>@guineagirl96 @butterfreesnd LOL. I guess people or teachers exaggerate so that people can lessen their image on the web. Yea. I will take actions, as to learning that colleges don’t actually track every bit of you- I use to think that was case. Thanks. </p>
<p>But, employers might. So, now would be a good time to start crafting your professional image online. </p>
<p>I have recounted this story in several other threads, but it’s worth repeating here. I attended a presentation several years ago by an admissions director from a respected liberal arts college. She said that they can’t possibly browse through social media for thousands of applicants, but they will occasionally receive a tip and they will follow up on it. The tip can come from a disapproving teacher, a rival classmate (or classmate’s parent), or some other figure. It’s a good idea to remove any potentially offensive content from your public profile - now, and in the future. Colleges probably won’t check, but you and your friends should keep anything you wouldn’t want them to see off of your social media sites.</p>
<p>This is completely unnecessary. There may be some isolated instances of admissions departments looking into social media pages, but things like YouTube comments? No. Just no. </p>
<p>Colleges don’t expect you to be a pristine, model citizen who has never in their life done anything ‘politically incorrect.’ They expect you to be a person. They aren’t going to deny your application on the basis of seeing a little bit of profanity in a YouTube comment or some ‘questionable’ photos on your Facebook page. </p>
<p>If you’re that worried, change your settings so that only friends can view your social media pages. Then create a LinkedIn profile and make it your ‘professional’ social media page. </p>