For Immediate Release
Attention Parents of High School and College Students The internet is as potentially dangerous as it is remarkably useful
Andy Greider 404 516 4204 andy(at)qalias.com
When Tom Johnson (names changed to protect the subjects of the story) sent his son, Brady, then 19, now 23 - off to school at a prestigious university he knew his son would do some silly things. “It’s why they call stupid actions ‘sophmoric,’“ Tom said. “But I didn’t expect this.”
Tom and Brady and the family are now living the nightmare made possible by our technological society, and in particular, the power (and ongoing ‘forever’ presence) of search engines, one they didn't think could happen. “When I was in school, you just had to avoid doing really detrimental stuff; avoid those things that could physically hurt you or others” said Tom, now 52. “For anyone, but especially for Brady and kids his age or younger, anytime you type a comment online, post a blog or participate in an event where someone has a cell phone with a camera, you’re liable for becoming a dubious internet search result.”
Tom’s statement is backed by the fact that 80% of recruiters use search engines to find out more about candidates – and 78% of admissions offices use the same to determine how to separate and choose applicants. “Technology has changed the liability of our teens and college students – but it hasn’t made them any more responsible,” said Tom.
In hindsight, Brady knows his story could have (and should have) been avoided. However, in the terms of a college student, Brady’s story began innocently enough, as he was simply trying to fulfill the list of pledge activities for his engineering fraternity. Among the myriad of things you could do was designing the perfect water pipe, or bong – used to smoke marijuana. To Brady, who had never smoked – and still hasn’t – it seemed like a logistical challenge as much as anything – and he knew the irony of a straight laced kid like him winning that contest would be funny amongst his peers. He simply didn’t think about it beyond that point.
“So, I designed this bong, down to the type of glass, manner in which to craft it, angles and all,” said Brady. “When it was done, some friends took it and put it on their social networking site as a “how-to” paper which they thought was funny.” Then the real troubles began – as viral distribution of the paper started - Brady began to be called ‘King Bong’ online by friends, and posts began appearing all over his profile.
Despite attempts to change his profiles online – Brady is now having trouble landing a job; he’s even having difficulty getting interviews with some companies. “The first recruiter told me they couldn’t help me. I’ve had two interviews stopped mid-process. To be honest, I never expected this,” said Brady. Neither did Tom. “When it happened the first time, I thought someone just dove deeper than the rest would. Then I began to worry he wouldn’t find a job – and that’s after we spent $160,000 to send him to 4 years of college,” said Tom.
While Brady’s case is extreme – the fact is that depending on the potential school or employers bias and stature – much smaller things can separate the wheat from the chaff in school or job search. “It doesn’t have to put you in a ‘we can’t hire you’ category – it simply has to make someone else with a similar resume more appealing than you,” said Brady. “I wish I could pass along this story to all the folks out there who are making ill-advised posts – simply put – DON’T! It can really mess up your life.”
Tom searched for weeks to find some way to scrub the search scars off the internet, but eventually found he really couldn’t change what was there – there were solutions, but they involved time and a lot of money. Then Tom found qAlias (www.qaliassignup.com) – where, for $9.95 a month, he could help position Brady’s name search, professional profile and resume at the top of popular search engines – and help Brady put his best foot forward. “It doesn’t mitigate the issues he has had – but he is now showing the best first impression when his name is searched and he now has 2 interviews,” said Tom. “It costs me $120 a year – which is less than the first textbook we bought him in freshman year. That’s worthwhile.”
“For parents who understand their children will do things they will later wish they could take back – especially online – there is a way to help best position them – we’re believers in this new service,” said Tom. “I hope Brady’s story helps people not do these things, but I also know how likely it is for teens and young twenties to do really thoughtless stuff.”
Again, while Brady’s story may seem dubious to parents and teens both, the power of search is changing the face of both school and job searches. Don't fall prey to the classic mistake of thinking it can't happen to you - or to your child. Make the best first e-Impression you can for yourself and for them – www.qaliassignup.com.
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