Social Media and College Planning: The Viral Lessons of Likes and Views

From cooking videos to makeup tutorials to thrifting tips to advocacy, social media can be a great way to discover new things. But in the constant swirl of reels, likes, and influencer promotions, social media can flood you with so much information that you might find yourself asking:

• How can I use social media as I plan for college? 
• Is content on my “For You” page verified from reliable sources? 
• Who can see my likes or posts? 
• How safe is my personal information, like address or phone number, on these platforms? 

We’ve got tips on strengthening your online persona, finding reputable sources, and protecting yourself as you navigate high school and plan for postsecondary options online.

How to Use Social Media Accounts when Applying to College

Social media can be entertaining and enlightening if you empower yourself to use it well. It can also be a great tool to showcase your achievements, interests, and extracurricular activities to colleges, helping you stand out in the admissions process. 

Many students use their social media profiles to show college admissions offices their personality while applying. These students use their social media profiles to:

• Show off their creativity and technical abilities.
• Give a more in-depth look into special projects or volunteer work.
• Demonstrate their interest in a particular major, college, or career.

To further explore the college experience, follow the colleges you’re interested in. Official college social media sites offer potential and current students multiple ways to stay connected with campus organizations, events, and academics.

Don’t forget to follow BigFuture as you carve your path in planning for college, paying for college, and exploring your future career. 

Protect Your Online Reputation 

You build an online reputation through your online actions. Everything you do online leaves a digital footprint behind, the data trail that marks your unique activities. 

Your likes, saves, and shares can all be traced back to you, whichever platform you use. Interactions with other users or accounts, including comments and direct messages, can also be tracked. It’s important to understand and be discriminating about the content you choose to engage with.

You can maintain the integrity of your digital footprint by being respectful and responsible with your online communication. Avoid using offensive language, be considerate of others' feelings, and think before you post. 

Safety and Conduct

As you navigate high school and prepare for the next chapter of your life, it’s important to recognize that one of your most valuable assets is your personal data. 

Make sure to:

• Set up privacy settings on social media platforms to control who can see your posts and activity.
• Enable two-factor authentication if available to ensure your account isn’t hacked.
• Never give out or sell your personal information. Report phishing scams and suspicious users.

Misinformation vs. Disinformation

We’ve all doomscrolled at some point and come across posts that make us feel concerned or anxious. Before you know it, you’re diving down one rabbit hole after another, searching for online material that validates your worries. Soon enough, the algorithm may start cataloging misinformation (inaccuracies) or disinformation (purposely false messaging). 

First, take a deep breath. Then follow these steps from our partner, The JED Foundation, to help you decide whether what you found is misleading or trustworthy:

• Check the credibility of the source: Is this person an expert on the subject? What kind of education or training do they have? What are their motivations for sharing?
• Look for citations: Reliable sources include government sites, studies from peer-reviewed journals, and research papers.
• Opt for neutrality: People presenting extremes may be pushing a veiled political agenda or looking to marginalize others. Stick to objective sources that share messaging in a nonjudgmental tone.
• Check for bias: Use a media bias chart to see where a news outlet leans politically. This can inform the kind of reporting they do and how they present messaging.

Pushing back on misinformation and disinformation involves trusting your skills and knowledge to tell apart fact from fiction. It also means feeling empowered to ask questions and dig deeper when you sense things aren’t quite right.

By understanding how to conduct yourself online, recognizing misinformation, and protecting your personal data, you can make the most of social media while staying safe.