Reputation Changer Case Studies Show More Teens Getting Serious About Online Reputation Management

WEST CHESTER, PA, June 10, 2013

For the last several years, parents and educators have worried about the online footprint left by their kids--but according to the most recent Reputation Changer case studies, teens are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of preserving their online image. Reputation Changer is not the only company to have noticed this; a recent Huffington Post article celebrates the fact that "online reputation management is finally being recognized by teens." Reputation Changer has responded to the article with a new statement to the press.

In the Reputation Changer press statement, company president Michael Zammuto affirms that, for teens, online reputation management is a paramount concern. "What you post to the Internet stays there forever, and therefore, with teens, a single ill-advised blog update or tweet can have a haunting effect for years to come. It may hurt a teen very little while he or she is still 13 or 14, but once the time comes to start applying for colleges or for jobs, an adverse online reputation can have devastating effects.

Zammuto also affirms the findings of the most recent Reputation Changer case studies. "What we're seeing is more teens getting proactive in building up positive online assets," he comments. "In other words, teens are not only realizing that they need to show discretion in what they post to Facebook and Twitter, but they're also working to craft strong online profiles and resumes--the kinds of things that will one day appeal to admissions counselors and employers."

As for the article in The Huffington Post, it notes a surprising new PEW study, which essentially affirms all of the points made by Zammuto. According to the new PEW findings, more than half of all teens say that they have decided not to post something on the Web, for fear of how it might affect their online reputation. Additionally, 59 percent have taken the action of deleting or removing comments made in the past, for fear of long-term damage. Nearly half of all teens have untagged themselves from potentially embarrassing photos, and 31 percent say that they have deleted social media profiles or accounts altogether.

For all of these positive numbers, another number stands out--specifically, the finding that nearly one in five of all teens say they have posted something to the Web and regretted it later.

According to Zammuto, this simply shows that there is still work to be done in educating teens about he best practices for online reputation management. "More and more teens are aware that what they post to the Web stays with them, more or less forever, but at the same time, some teens don't understand exactly how they can defend themselves against reputational damage," he offers.

The Reputation Changer president says that parents can play a big role in keeping their kids safe on the Internet. "Talk with them about the permanency of online posts, and about the importance of avoiding any potentially embarrassing, offensive, or bullying posts," he notes. "It is also a good idea to be open and honest about how you preserve your own online image."

Zammuto concludes by noting that "the PEW data, combined with recent Reputation Changer case studies, show promise, but there is still much to be done in educating our children about the importance of online reputation management."

ABOUT:

Reputation Changer was founded in 2009, and to this day has a vision for providing individuals and brands with total control of how they are portrayed on the Web. The company offers reputation monitoring and management services to individuals and companies alike. Indeed, the company is known for its standard-setting technologies and also for its proprietary methodologies; the company's client list encompasses government bodies, noteworthy politicians, Fortune 100 companies, small businesses, doctors, dentists, lawyers, and private citizens. The company is accessible on the Web at reputationchanger.com.