Unfortunately, you do not have 100% control over what people can see about you online. Social media, mugshot websites, niche search engines and public records websites will turn up awkward graduation photos, arrest mugshots, court records, or even an idle comment made in jest. If you have been charged with any type of misdemeanor or federal offense, negative online information will make it very difficult or even impossible to find good jobs or resurrect your existing career. It can also have a negative effect on your relationships, college or university applications, loans applications and/or the ability to rent a home or apartment in a nice area of town.
Thankfully, there are some ways in which you can control what people do and do not see about you online. Following are some simple yet highly effective ways in which you can do this.
Clean up Your Social Media Accounts
It is not uncommon for a potential employer to ask a job applicant for access to his or her Facebook page. Other social media accounts can be accessed without one's permission or even prior knowledge. Consider what you have posted on your social media accounts and take down comments and/or photos that would put you in a bad light.
Target Mugshot Photo Websites
Thankfully, there are some ways in which you can control what people do and do not see about you online. Following are some simple yet highly effective ways in which you can do this.
Clean up Your Social Media Accounts
It is not uncommon for a potential employer to ask a job applicant for access to his or her Facebook page. Other social media accounts can be accessed without one's permission or even prior knowledge. Consider what you have posted on your social media accounts and take down comments and/or photos that would put you in a bad light.
Target Mugshot Photo Websites
Mugshot photo websites make very large sums of money by posting mugshot photos of those who have been arrested for a crime. These sites not only fail to note if you have been cleared of criminal charges but also post photos of people convicted of lighter offenses such as DUI next to photos of child abusers and murderers.
Thankfully, many states do not permit third-party sites to put up your photo without your permission. Find out where the site is based out of and consider pressing charges if the site operator is behaving in an illegal manner. You can also file a complaint with the site's hosting service; this information can be found for free via a simple Google search.
It takes time to remove negative information about yourself from Google and Bing; however, it can be done. Get started now with reputation management and avoid the pain of losing work, housing and relationships opportunities due to past mistakes.
