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74% of US adults remove photos or comments from social media to avoid “negative reaction” from current or future employers

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By Jennifer Faull, Deputy Editor

July 29, 2013 | 2 min read

Seventy-four per cent of US adults aged 18-34 have removed something from social media, such as a photo, comment or personal information, in order avoid “negative reactions” from current or future employers.

Twenty-nine per cent said they have posted something to the likes of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr that they worry could compromise their job prospects.

The statistics came from FindLaw.com, a legal-information website which conducted a "demographically balanced" survey among 1,000 American adults.

According to the survey, those in the 35-64 age bracket are less worried about the content they put online, with 36 per cent admitting to later deleting risky posts.

However, Stephanie Rahlfs, an attorney-editor with FindLaw.com, said that “taking down or removing a post or photo may not be enough, as the information may continue to live on in other parts of the Internet.”

"It’s best to assume that anything that you post could live on the Internet forever, and to think accordingly before hitting the 'Post' button," she advised.

The Drum frequently comes across social media users who hit the share button without thinking twice, or even checking they are on their personal accounts and not their employers’. Click here for a roundup of some of the more disastrous posts that have led to problems.

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