*Originally published in this year’s second issue of The Warrior Record*

As you scroll down your dash on Tumblr or posting a selfie on Instagram, it’s nearly impossible to tell who is looking on your profile, or scrolling through your pictures. So who’s looking? Deputy Shorter for one. “I want kids to expose as much as they can, so I can learn [about] what’s going on,” said SRO Deputy Shorter. He’s on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Myspace, and even more monitoring what students are posting. “I monitor situations that may become a threat to the safety of the school.” And Osceola isn’t the only school with their SRO checking up on student posts on social media, the entire county does it. His tips on how to maintain online privacy is to either not be on social media at all or that “if you don’t want anyone to know [something] don’t post it.” Shorter said he has found out about drug abuse mainly through social media, it’s one of the main things he looks for on student posts along with any cyberbullying or problems he can help students with. In addition to those simple tips what can you do to keep your online life private? According to getsafeonline.org use strong passwords, change your passwords regularly, and avoid using your real name online. When on social media it’s nearly impossible to tell who’s on the other screen. Shorter for example uses a pseudonym while monitoring sites. In addition to law enforcement, potential colleges are also looking on prospective students social media, in fact there are no guidelines in most colleges about what admissions officers can and can’t look at on social media. In the past couple of years along with incorporating some simple tips like the one’s above many students who are looking to apply are also changing their social media as they get near college age changing their names, posts, and pictures to reflect well on themselves. So the next time you’re scrolling down Tumblr or posting pictures on Instagram keep in mind that colleges, law enforcement, and even Shorter could be watching what your posting.