Technological advances have made connecting with others online extremely simple. It’s actually so simple that most people forget that billions of people can see what they’re posting online. Making mistakes can be an inevitable fact of life, but making them online can quickly spiral out of control.
In this article, we’ll show you how to prevent damage to your online reputation and how to fix it if it does.
Preventing Online Reputation Damage
They say prevention is better than cure, and this quote applies to managing your online reputation. Here are a few tips on how to avoid getting into situations that could affect the way people perceive you online.
- Avoid spending too much time on Social Media. – Too much of anything is a bad thing, and that also applies to Social Media. The more you dwell on it, the better your chances of saying something you will eventually regret. If possible, reduce your online presence. Disconnect from the network frequently. This not only minimizes potential mistakes, but also helps you maintain your sanity.
- Think twice before posting – Remember an adage, everything on the internet stays there forever. What you really need to watch out for is an often underestimated character of the internet. Everything you say on social media leaves a lasting impression. You may have forgotten your post as soon as you decided to hit enter, but this thing will be seen for days or even weeks. If it attracts attention, it can stay on trend even longer. Be careful what you say on the internet because it takes a while for people to forget.
- Try to review your old posts from time to time – People mistakenly believe that deleting posts will delete them from the internet. This is only partially true. The Internet is not a single entity, it is millions upon millions of interconnected computers. There always has to be a backup of the currently released data somewhere.
Still, you should try to check your old posts from time to time to find anything that might attract unwanted attention. Sure, you can’t permanently delete something from the internet, but deleting old posts can at least make them harder to find. At the same time, it is better to remove old posts one at a time, rather than dozens of them in one sitting.
Damage Control
When the worst-case scenario happens, you should at least know what to do to minimize the fallout. Keep calm and don’t panic. Try to approach the problem rationally and you can only get away with it with a bruised ego.
- Take a break – The first thing you should always do when faced with a sudden stream of negative reactions is to step back, turn off your computer or phone, and then do something else. Don’t get caught up in your emotions. Angry sharing is never the answer. On the contrary, it can make things worse. Take a break, then come back when you’ve calmed down.
- Don’t get into flame wars – The worst thing you can do is get into a few posts or even pages of discussion. It’s fine to have a quiet discussion, but be careful that it doesn’t turn into petty nicknames or slurs. Do not add fuel to the fire. If the other party is not listening to reason, there is no point in prolonging the discussion. Become a better person and go with the flow.
- Ignore, blocking – People who spend a lot of time on the Internet tend to have shorter attention spans. Or at least that’s what a recent study shows. It also means that if you don’t pay attention to the trolls and firemen they will get bored and move on. For negative posts, it’s usually better to use Ignore rather than Block Senders. Ignoring it means you won’t be able to see their post, but the sender won’t be warned about it. This is because some trolls use their blocked as a reason to continue trolling.
- Apologize – There’s a lot to be said for owning up to your mistakes. If you know you’re wrong, admit it and apologize sincerely. Trying to defend an action that is clearly wrong will only backfire in the long run. Say you’re sorry and be serious.
Bad Experience for Everyone
Damage to your online reputation is a bad experience for everyone. Equipping yourself with knowing how to prevent this damage and even fix it when it occurs can save you a lot of stress.
Have you ever been in a situation where you had to try to fix your online reputation? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
