We’ve all heard the warning, multiple times: be careful what you post on the Internet. Many of us nod and say, “Oh yeah, I know,” thinking of our quickly selected privacy settings on social networking sites. Then, we pretty much forget about it.  Unfortunately, the truth is that no one looking to apply to schools, internship programs, or jobs today can afford to have this attitude if they want to be successful. People are being denied admittance to universities over something as simple as a page they “Liked” on Facebook or are being denied jobs over a single tweet.  In his book “lol… OMG! What Every Student Needs to Know About Online Reputation Management, Digital Citizenship and Cyberbullying,” Matt Ivester outlines strategies for sprucing up your online reputation.  “And why should I listen to this guy?” you may ask. Well, he knows a thing or two about the way people act online- he is the creator of what was once the largest college gossip site in the United States: JuicyCampus.com. So- what are Matt’s juicy words of wisdom to all of us still on campus? There are quite a few important points in this book, some of which carry the same message our parents and teachers have been trying to pound into our heads: posting something stupid on the Internet can really hurt you.  As “lol…OMG!” points out, your future potential employers are already hiring companies to screen the online activity of their job applicants and to flag anything that can be considered offensive in any way. When you don’t get the job because of that status you posted from last year, they’re not even obligated to tell you why. However, it seems hope is not lost-Matt Ivester presents us all with some challenges, and is kind enough to provide us with the tools to overcome these challenges. Aside from providing examples of students who have fallen prey to poor Internet choices and outlining several different ways in which we can become “conscious creators of content,” “lol…OMG!” breaks down the ways in which the business world and social interactions are changing thanks to the Internet. The book also helps highlight why people put so much stock in what they read about you online before they even meet you.  It never hurts to be reminded that as college students, we need to be smart about what we are posting. We don’t have to give up YouTube and Tumblr, but we do have to think about what kind of online reputation we want to have when we upload to our favorite sites.  We also need to be conscious of how other people might react to the comments that we’re making. Maybe you really do feel that way about whatever your last tweet concerned, but would you risk writing those same 140 characters on your next job application? There’s a lot to learn about managing your reputation online. I thought I was pretty knowledgeable before I read this book- I know about privacy settings and try to think about what I’m trying to say before I click ‘send.’  The truth is, our generation is growing and developing with the Internet, and there are quite a few things we are trying to figure out as we go. But that doesn’t mean we have to be oblivious.  Be smart, Gaels- it’s not to late to make a New Year’s resolution to get your cyber self in-check. You may want to study up on “lol… OMG!” before you catch yourself saying… well, just that.    To contact The Ionian’s Julie Donato, e-mail her at [email protected]     To get a FREE digital copy of lol…OMG!, click here! Offer available from January 27-30.