PUTTING YOUR BEST DIGITAL FOOT FORWARD
~ Microsoft Encourages
Individuals to Examine Their Online Reputation and Offers
Tips to Start the New Year with a Healthy, Productive
Online Profile ~
January 2012
(Redmond, WA) -- Technology
is a big part of our day-to-day lives and the number
of device options continues to grow. As we all do more
online, from responding to emails and texts, making
online purchases, clicking the "like" and "retweet"
buttons on web pages, or uploading photos, or other
content, it's important to know how these things contribute
to your online reputation.
While 91 percent of people
have done something to manage their profile, only 44
percent of adults actively think about the long-term
consequences their activities have on their online reputation.
In observance of Data Privacy Day, Microsoft is helping
people put their best digital foot forward, offering
some tips to ensure a healthy, productive online profile:
-
Conduct your own "reputation report" from time
to time. Search your name in Bing and other search
engines and evaluate if these search results reflect
the reputation you'd like to share with the world.
Microsoft's research found that 37 percent of adults
never do this.
-
If you're job hunting, applying to schools, or
looking for new insurance or a loan, keep in mind
that your image online can impact decision makers.
Currently, 57 percent of adults think about taking
steps to keep their work and personal profiles private,
however, 17 percent of adults shared information
online that was intended to remain private.
-
Adjust your privacy settings so you can enjoy
all the benefits of social media/social networking
and maintain your desired level of privacy. Facebook,
Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networking sites
offer a range of privacy settings. Microsoft's research
found 49 percent of adults do not use privacy settings
on social networking sites. Kids rank slightly better,
but 45 percent do not use them.
###
|
|
