It is tempting to comment and post about the current political situation in Kenya. It is very easy to get dragged into the heated discussions. Social media was designed to allow us to freely express ourselves and share our thoughts with those whom we choose to, even when they are unpopular. On this, Alison Green, a former hiring manager said: “Social media is now so woven into the fabric of people’s lives that they forget not everything is suitable to put out there.”  Your thoughts and opinions affect people differently and therefore have consequences. This is especially important because social media has blurred the lines which separate personal from professional life.

Here are examples of people who have had varied consequences from their social media posts:

• In California, an employee of the State Board of Equalization tweeted a photo of a blood-splattered hangman with a noose and the phrase “I’m Ready for Hillary” from the Riverside County Republican Party’s Twitter account. Nathan Miller, who admitted posting the tweet, resigned from the party position and from his position as a trustee for the Riverside Community College District.

• In Ann Arbor, Mich., mortgage loan officer was fired after she tweeted racist comments about First Lady Michelle Obama during a convention.

• West Virginia State Del. Michael Folk, a Republican, was criticized for tweeting that Hillary Clinton “should be tried for treason, murder, and crimes against the U.S. Constitution … then hung on the Mall in Washington, D.C.”

• Closer to home, Ken Wa Mwangi was last year inflamed the anger of Kenyans online and went on to face an inquiry by his employers, the Kenya Airports Authority, after sharing a post on his Facebook page about being a paedophile.

How does your social media affect your career?

1. Job Search

Social media is no longer cutting edge.  It is part and parcel of HR and anyone who overlooks it today is doing the equivalent of ignoring email 20 years ago. According to Landers and Schmidt, yearly surveys by CareerBuilder have found continuous growth in the number of employers reporting finding social media content that has led to the rejection of a job applicant, up to 51% as of the 2014 survey. Many employers are now consulting social media when making hiring decisions, often without the awareness of the applicant. Before you share anything on social media, think about the consequences of such a post because the internet NEVER forgets.

2. Personal Brand

In our previous post on LinkedIn, we discussed social media as a tool recruiters and employers use to search for and identify candidates. Google allows a recruiter to look for the candidate not only through the professional sites but also through personal sites. Jerry M. Burger defines a personality as consistent behavioral patterns originating within the individual. We can identify these consistent behavioral patterns across time and situations. We expect someone who is outgoing today to be outgoing tomorrow. Someone who is competitive at work to be competitive in sports.  A simple comment could make you an inciter, or a person who lacks judgement or emotional intelligence.

3. Effect on your Team

Social media allows us to specify a list of connections with other people using the sites (e.g Facebook Friends). Users are able to explore content from both their own connections and the connections of others. If team members or business associates are in your network, discussing some topics can cause conflict. You don’t want to ruin a professional relationship over a few moments of frustration.

In conclusion, it is important to remember that constant exposure to the barrage of negative news can heighten your stress levels and make you feel overwhelmed. Cutting down your intake (while staying informed) can make you feel less stressed.  So, before you press the post button, you should consider the repercussions of making certain statements online.