The last thing I want to do is promote a fear culture in the LGBT community. However, in a world where the right to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, or trans is not federally acknowledged in our housing, churches, schools, or businesses I understand that it can be downright scary to be openly gay. Most choose only to be open with friends and maybe a few family members. But you may be outing yourself to a lot more people in ways that you do not even realize.
With the advent of Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites people have essentially begun writing online diaries detailing their every thought and activity. Sometimes we forget that we are "sharing" this information with the entire world. Something that seems as innocent as "liking" a movie, book, or band can end up getting you fired if your boss where to connect it with homosexuality. And things are only becoming more complicated as these social networking sites create options for linking. Now, if I'm logged onto my Facebook account and I have the "social media" app turned on, any videos I watch, articles I read, or websites I visit are automatically displayed on my wall or to my friends. The ability to link sites like Facebook and Twitter means that your status updates could automatically post to people you had not intended to share them with.
Even if you think that you are safe; you have your Facebook set to private and you never "share" or "like" anything LGBT; you can still be betrayed by any one of your 500 "friends," especially if you are friends with co-workers. Messages you thought were private or status updates you thought were inside jokes are suddenly leaked and you are walking out of the boss's office with a cardboard box. It may seem crazy, but crazy happens.
Recently many guidelines on how to use social media safely have cropped up all over the internet. As businesses and schools are flooded with more and more applicants every year they have turned to the internet to find out what you are not putting on your application. They will Google search your full name to see what you, or others, are spreading about you online. They will comb through your Facebook and other websites you have joined to see what you are posting and how you are behaving. If they do not like what they see, they could see you to the door. Be careful when posting online. It is better to be safe than sorry; and if you are not sure, do not post.
Advisory on online conduct:
http://time.com/money/3510967/jobvite-social-media-profiles-job-applicants/
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