I have several social media apps on my phone, and I noticed on almost every one of them there are frequent amounts of people swearing. When I mentioned cussing, you are probably picturing teenagers ranting about how mad they are at someone. Ironically, the people who are cursing are not even angry; it is just their everyday talk.

I asked my parents if they remember people swearing randomly in sentences for no reason, and they said they did. Unlike back then, though, everything we say or do on social media leaves a trail. My parents could have said anything they wanted when they were teenagers, but no one would remember. In today’s society, people can screenshot text messages and social media post, so even if you delete your message, it will never be permanently erased.

Furthermore, using crude language and putting inappropriate images on the internet reflects a person’s character. College admissions officers and prospective employers often consider one’s social media footprint. What one puts on the internet not only represents the student, but the college the student attends and the student’s job. Lacking appropriate grammar and using foul language shows employers and other bystanders you are immature. Not only that, swearing demonstrates your lack of respect to others and yourself.

In addition, people who cuss regularly are often seen as uneducated because it is believed they lack the knowledge and ability to find a more suitable way to describe what they are trying to say. In other words, swearing shows a lack of vocabulary and laziness. Rather than making the effort to articulate, you result to swearing because it is easy and comfortable.

Despite what some people say, social media profiles are a resume, and they can determine if you get hired for a job. What one puts on the internet shows what kind of person he or she is outside the “interview room," and it reflects their true character. Social media used unprofessionally can embarrass a business, a school, a community or family. People should understand the consequences their actions can have if they put undesirable posts on the internet and that social media always leaves footprints. Your past can ultimately dictate your future by one thoughtless post.