Each of us has a “web presence” in this day of technology.  Just try “Googling” yourself.  I did so, and pulled up my Facebook page as the first result.  Then I found my personal website, LinkedIn profile, my writing here on One Money Design, my twitter profile, and some radio archives where I was on MoneyLife by Crown Financial Ministries (no longer broadcast for those who go to Google it!).  You can find out a lot about me, what I do, and what I like to do just from those six links!  So how do you guard your web presence?

The World is Watching

Realize that anything you say, post, or put a picture of on the web can and will be seen by ANYONE!  Do not post anything you do not want your parents, your employer, a future employer ten years down the road, or the government to know about!  In other words, it is not a good idea to tell the world about the fight you and your mom just had.  Or that you got fired for being perpetually late.  That information will last forever on the internet.

Avoid Posting Personal Information

Do not post personal information on the web.  You will notice that I carefully guard my cell phone information as well as other very personal identifying information.  Websites like Facebook and LinkedIn ask you for that; however, you do not have to enter it in order to use their websites.  You can also use it for functions and not display the information.

Be Aware of the Consequences

Be careful in how you handle yourself in all areas of life.  Just as our Messiah lives in our heart and sees everything we do, so reads everything we post to the internet!  Do I really want to have to give account for that post?  Think through what you say before you say it.  It is often easy to tweet something in frustration…but do I want that to be out there forever?

Live a Pleasing Life

Live a life pleasing to the Lord with no skeletons.  While none of us are without sin, do your best to live a life pleasing to the Lord.  Then there will be nothing that you have to hide.  I do not drink or party, so I do not have to worry about any bad photos appearing of me doing something crazy at a party.  Why?  Because I know that drinking would not be pleasing to the Lord.  In the long run, that protects me in many areas of life.

So in reality the internet often exposes multiple facets of our life which we can personally guard.  Living  a life pleasing to the Lord and being careful in your speech will go a long way towards a healthy web presence and be sure to take advantage of the good things that offered on this great tool.