Social Media Common Sense

Capt MJ

Capt MJ

Serviam.
15-Year Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2008
Messages
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I saw a new thread about an Instagram account for 2024 pop up, asking for pic and bio, then it vanished, not sure why.

That prompted me to urge common sense to appointees for your social accounts going forward, and a quick scrub looking backward. USNA detailers occasionally have some fun ferreting out juicy tidbits on incoming plebes, delighting in sharing them for the edification of the new class. The elected representatives put out press releases, local papers do interviews, appointees (and parents) post about it themselves - the info is out there.

Be thoughtful about photos (what you’re doing, what you’re wearing, where you are, it all creates an impression) and what you say in any medium. It lives on. Watch out for hubris. You should be pleased and proud, just be low-key.

I can only assume the cadets mentioned in these online items linked below turned out to be fine officers, but people still remember and chuckle about this today - the words and photos are easily found.

Hometown story + interesting quote about Mars > found by USAFA cadre > “Mars boy” starts > featured in cnet.com story and countless other places > lives on, just google “USAFA Mars boy”

www.brownsvilleherald.com

Academy appointee looks toward the future

BROWNSVILLE - Cesar Riojas hopes that being accepted into the U.S. Air Force Academy will be the first leg of his mission to Mars.
www.brownsvilleherald.com www.brownsvilleherald.com


www.cnet.com

Welcome to the Air Force Academy. You're doing everything wrong!

For the 1,376 basic cadets who reported for duty at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Thursday, the next four years will be about keeping impossibly high standards and refusing to give in to the temptation to give up. And trying to avoid getting screamed at.
www.cnet.com www.cnet.com
 
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I saw that IG account too. Didnt realize it was gone. Interesting that it was a public account.

Something to add to what @CAPTMJ wisely recommended is to also check for posts you are tagged in! Not only YOUR social media accounts but check your tagged pics. THAT can be a sobering (pun) look, too.

BTW, did y'all see that the Army is 'forbidding' Tik-Tok? Not sure where I read that, but brought it up last night among my DS's big group of friends, one enlisted Army. He proceeded to show me Tik-Tok military posts. A Military Tik-Tok account. Wow, NOT a good look....little videos of people doing things unbecoming in uniform.

I think kids (young adults) maybe don't think us older people are smart enough to look at this stuff?? Otherwise, why would they post it? If you are bored today, look up military Tik-Toks. Many of you seasoned military folks will pop an eyeball I would think!
 
I made a similar comment on another thread last week. Big Brother, BGO's, Employers are watching... nothing is private any more ! The bottom line, don't do anything in public (including alone with friends), that you don't want to see in the paper or have to explain someday later.

Not that long ago, somebody started a thread on the Class Facebook page posting pics of our time at USNA. While I regret that I don't have many pictures of my time at USNA or in the Navy, I (and many of my classmate) are happy that the ubiquitous cell phone camera didn't exist back in the day.

BTW --what is Tik Tok ? It's hard to keep up with all social media... I am stuck with Facebook (for Class communications only), and Linked In (for professional contacts).
 
China is about to own the social media market with their new social credit score rolling out this year. Straight out of a Black Mirror episode. Everyone should delete Tik Tok (which I'm embarrassed to say I'm only recently aware of - maybe that's actually a good thing?).
 
that class of 24 IG account is still active. im scrolling through the details and pictures right now. so much information available and completely open to the public
 
@Old Navy BGO TikTok is a video posting app. kids/teens make short videos and post them, and get followers to follow and comment on your video. A boy at my sons school is making a lot of money off his TikTok videos.
 
Capt MJ said:
I saw a new thread about an Instagram account for 2024 pop up, asking for pic and bio, then it vanished, not sure why.

That prompted me to urge common sense to appointees for your social accounts going forward, and a quick scrub looking backward. USNA detailers occasionally have some fun ferreting out juicy tidbits on incoming plebes, delighting in sharing them for the edification of the new class. The elected representatives put out press releases, local papers do interviews, appointees (and parents) post about it themselves - the info is out there.

Be thoughtful about photos (what you’re doing, what you’re wearing, where you are, it all creates an impression) and what you say in any medium. It lives on. Watch out for hubris. You should be pleased and proud, just be low-key.

I can only assume the cadets mentioned in these online items linked below turned out to be fine officers, but people still remember and chuckle about this today - the words and photos are easily found.

Hometown story + interesting quote about Mars > found by USAFA cadre > “Mars boy” starts > featured in cnet.com story and countless other places > lives on, just google “USAFA Mars boy”

www.brownsvilleherald.com

Academy appointee looks toward the future

BROWNSVILLE - Cesar Riojas hopes that being accepted into the U.S. Air Force Academy will be the first leg of his mission to Mars.
www.brownsvilleherald.com www.brownsvilleherald.com


www.cnet.com

Welcome to the Air Force Academy. You're doing everything wrong!

For the 1,376 basic cadets who reported for duty at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Thursday, the next four years will be about keeping impossibly high standards and refusing to give in to the temptation to give up. And trying to avoid getting screamed at.
www.cnet.com www.cnet.com
Click to expand...
Hello! I find the USNA class of 2024 helpful to fellow applicants and parents. They only post a short bio and picture of the appointee so the process does not give too much intel of who they are. I’ve talked to the admins of the page and their goal with creating the platform was to allow future plebes to meet each other and to showcase their achievements to a positive group. They also have a private groupchat where anyone in the class of 2024 regardless of application status can communicate, ask questions and share helpful opinions to help them along their application.

Before the USNA 24’ page was created, there was a USNA 23’ page. Same motive and great results. As well as 22’ page, 21’ page and 20’ page. All applicants (including myself) are aware of detailers seeing our information and can opt out of being posted at anytime.
 
Navy24 said:
Hello! I find the USNA class of 2024 helpful to fellow applicants and parents. They only post a short bio and picture of the appointee so the process does not give too much intel of who they are. I’ve talked to the admins of the page and their goal with creating the platform was to allow future plebes to meet each other and to showcase their achievements to a positive group. They also have a private groupchat where anyone in the class of 2024 regardless of application status can communicate, ask questions and share helpful opinions to help them along their application.

Before the USNA 24’ page was created, their was a USNA 23’ page. Same motive and great results. As well as 22’ page, 21’ page and 20’ page. All applicants (including myself) are aware of detailers seeing their information and can opt out of being posted at anytime.
Click to expand...

the page is a great idea and a great way to connect new MIDS. however, be mindful that each post contains a link to that persons private IG page with every post they ever made and many young people have open (non private) IG pages. which is fine as long as it doesnt contain anything immature.
 
The Class of 2024 Instagram randomly popped up on my IG feed last night, too.

I perused it and found the postings, pictures and brief accompanying bios to be innocent enough, yet did wonder a similar sentiment expressed by others as to how the USNA detailers would view it.

My college years were “social media free” as we did not yet have the invention of Instagram and Facebook.

It seems quite typical that most colleges and college freshmen, whether civilian colleges or military colleges utilize social media for students to introduce themselves and navigate the exciting journey before meeting officially in either June, August or September of their incoming entrance year.

We have always advised it is best to be mindful of the following:

•No post is EVER truly anonymous.

•Posts NEVER disappear.

•Anyone CAN find your posts.

•No post should ever be sexist, seemingly threatening or obviously threatening, or bigoted toward any group.

Students and others (such as teachers, current Mids, former Mids, parents, basically everyone!) should think carefully about what they post on any social media platform.

I have perused many of these civilian “college class” Instagram accounts and they typically include user-submitted photos, a brief biography of the student with mention of intended major, an anecdotal statement, hobbies, sports, interests, whether they are seeking a roommate, etc., and their personal Instagram handle.

Connecting college students was the genesis behind the creation of Facebook, with Instagram following; all to allow HS students to connect and “meet” other incoming freshmen at college prior to arrival on the first day of college or Plebe summer.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
I made a similar comment on another thread last week. Big Brother, BGO's, Employers are watching... nothing is private any more ! The bottom line, don't do anything in public (including alone with friends), that you don't want to see in the paper or have to explain someday later.

Not that long ago, somebody started a thread on the Class Facebook page posting pics of our time at USNA. While I regret that I don't have many pictures of my time at USNA or in the Navy, I (and many of my classmate) are happy that the ubiquitous cell phone camera didn't exist back in the day.

BTW --what is Tik Tok ? It's hard to keep up with all social media... I am stuck with Facebook (for Class communications only), and Linked In (for professional contacts).
Click to expand...

TikTok is a popular lip-syncing app.

Parents' Ultimate Guide to TikTok

Parents' Ultimate Guide to TikTok - Learn more and get Common Sense Media's research-backed tips.
www.commonsensemedia.org www.commonsensemedia.org
 
When my son first checked into TBS, they had all the lieutenants in the big room, whatever it’s called, at the start of the course. A captain started clicking through pic after pic of those in the crowd. The photos were projected for all to see and the presenter provided commentary describing various acts unbecoming of officers and some illegal even. They were called a bunch of dum dums and told to clean up their social media footprint.
 
Yep, all new appointees should do themselves a favor and scrub their social media of anything unprofessional in addition to making everything private. While I don’t think it’s appropriate for upperclassmen to stalk incoming Plebes online with the goal of embarrassing them over the summer, better to be vigilant so that it isn’t even possible for them.

When I was a Plebe my Cyber Security instructor explained why he uses no social media: It makes the jobs of nefarious people looking to harm you much easier, erodes your privacy, has been shown to contribute to depression, and is designed to waste your time. This doesn’t mean nobody should ever use it, but the moral is to be conscious of your actions. As the saying goes: Everything in moderation.
 
Capt MJ said:
That prompted me to urge common sense to appointees for your social accounts going forward, and a quick scrub looking backward.
Click to expand...
This applies to parents, too. When my son was awarded NROTC scholarship 2 weeks ago, the skipper of the regional recruiting command asked us to refrain from posting about the award on social media. It was fine to tell family and friends, he said, but they prefer not to see pictures posted of the recipient with the "Big Check" (an enormous posterboard fake check like you see on fundraisers). That made perfect sense to me, so nothing on FB. People who are close enough to our family to be in on the BIG WINTER WAIT already know. DS was totally onboard with radio silence and confirmed to me that he has always been locked down on insta and snapchat. (He wouldn't be caught dead on FaceBook)
 
This IG account caught my attention last night as a recent appointee. I looked through and saw that it was innocent enough and the bios of the kids are pretty harmless. I decided to steer clear of putting my name out there and potentially feeding dirt to my future detailers. But, some of the instagram accounts are filled with private high-school stuff which shouldn't be there.

One of my friends sent me this post from an account that was posted on the page:
(deleted pic, don't want to ruin this kids life.) . It's a picture of someone doing the 'ok'/'white power' hand symbol. Nothing else, just a close up of the picture.

While this 'symbol' is heavily debated, I can't believe someone would leave this on their instagram in light of recent controversy specifically related to service academy cadets.
 
2024candidate said:
This IG account caught my attention last night as a recent appointee. I looked through and saw that it was innocent enough and the bios of the kids are pretty harmless. I decided to steer clear of putting my name out there and potentially feeding dirt to my future detailers. But, some of the instagram accounts are filled with private high-school stuff which shouldn't be there.

One of my friends sent me this post from an account that was posted on the page:
(deleted pic, don't want to ruin this kids life.) . It's a picture of someone doing the 'ok'/'white power' hand symbol. Nothing else, just a close up of the picture.

While this 'symbol' is heavily debated, I can't believe someone would leave this on their instagram in light of recent controversy specifically related to service academy cadets.
Click to expand...

A great lesson in ‘once posted it’s always there’.....

The picture referenced as deleted is NOT gone. At least for me. I use the SA app, and its front and center on your post on my feed. I was startled to see it this morning actually as I was scrolling! Not sure why your post says deleted, yet it’s still there. I’m not an IT person. But it is.
 
Kierkegaard said:
While I don’t think it’s appropriate for upperclassmen to stalk incoming Plebes online with the goal of embarrassing them over the summer, better to be vigilant so that it isn’t even possible for them.
Click to expand...

Plebe Detailers have plenty of other things to do, and are really unlikely to waste time looking into their Plebe's background. That said, if a Plebe is struggling , the Detailer might look into the past to see what is making the kid tick.

In addition, BGO's (and future employers) will look at Social Media, not to embarass, but rather to familiarize themselves with the candidate. I often know a fair amount about a candidate before I meet with him/her.

Finally, I grew up in the era when the stories of the Vietnam POW's were still fresh in the public memory. Vietnamese captors exploited regular US media to torture, torment and break US POWS. Fortunately, we've had only limited POW situations in recent history, but the potential exists for everyone who serves, and you can rest assured that the captor will exploint any information available. In addition, the ongoing war on terrorism has no physical boundaries and no limits --I've seen novels where the bad guys target military and their families at home, and that really isn't that big a stretch in todays world.

Bottom line, it's never too early to be thinking about OPSEC. That doesn't mean you have to live in a shell, but think twice about what you post !

PS --thanks to all those that enlightened me on Tick Tock; one of the posted FAQ indicated that their target audience was Gen Z (13-24 years). I am far outside the target audience !
 
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