Remember that crazy thing you said when you were 15? Of course you don’t. But social media might. Your timeline is nearly immortal. You are not.
Last month, the Portland Trail Blazers hired 29-year-old Braiden Bell as their new TV play-by-play announcer. Hours later, they fired him when offensive social posts from 2012 and 2013 resurfaced. He was 15 when he wrote them.
Weeks later, Dancing with the Stars benched Val Chmerkovskiy after one ill-advised TikTok post responding to a judge’s criticism.
Reasonable people can debate whether someone should lose an adult job over something written at 15. The larger warning is harder to debate: Instagram and Facebook may not exist in the same form five years from now, but posts can outlive the platforms.
Radio and Rock have their own evidence lockers. A new Rock/Sports format was abandoned only six weeks into its run after its morning show — which never made it to air — posted an ad widely criticized as making light of suicide. Not one daypart. An entire format, gone after one post.
Even seemingly untouchable national talent isn’t bulletproof. SiriusXM fired Anthony Cumia after an off-air Twitter tirade. His argument that the comments weren’t made on his show didn’t save him.
Bands, artists, celebrities, broadcasters and regular Joes can all get bitten. But the intention here isn’t to dance on graves. It’s a reminder that we’re always creating a record.
Your Future Explanation
You’re probably thinking, “Yeah, yeah, I know. I’ve heard all of this.”
But every month, someone else who “knew better” gets fired, suspended, dropped or publicly dragged. Bands get blackballed. DJs and CEOs lose jobs. Sponsors disappear. Everyone believes the rules are for someone else — until they’re explaining why the screenshot “lacks context” and was meant to be private.
Even if your show is #1 or you’re the top biller, try reading these future explanations aloud:
- I didn’t know that term was offensive. The troll came at me first. I was still fired.
- It was just a joke. I was trying to be funny. Now I’m updating my résumé.
- I only reposted the video. I didn’t even make it. I lost my endorsements.
- It was a private group chat. Now it’s a public career disaster.
- My steak sucked, so I unloaded on the server. Someone recorded it. Now I’m the front-page diva.
- Opposing counsel has years of my texts and socials. Now I’m reading them aloud while my family and fans hear every word.
Intent, context and the dumb-then/smarter-now defense matter. But none of them can stop the screenshot, video or public reaction from arriving first.
When we were young, our mistakes disappeared into a Friday night, a bad joke or an argument witnessed by six people. Now they’re recorded, uploaded, forwarded, archived and waiting for the worst possible moment to reappear.
Regrettable or Radioactive
We’ve all posted things we regret.
There’s a difference between regrettable and radioactive. Regrettable is that photo from 25 pounds ago or the hot take that went ice cold. Radioactive can cost someone a job, client, relationship or future opportunity.
The answer isn’t to become vanilla, timid or terrified of having a point of view. Strong personalities should have strong opinions, and great talent should take chances. But there’s a line. Being authentic doesn’t mean immunity, and a strong point of view isn’t an excuse for an impulse gone rogue.
Before putting a troll “in their place,” torching a business over a bad meal or posting while angry, ask one question:
Is this moment worth becoming part of my permanent record? Usually, it isn’t.
Build the Toolkit
If you manage talent or content creators, don’t hand them a 47-page social media policy no one will read. Use this as a meeting agenda and revisit it often.
Talk through situations before they happen:
- Review old posts before a competitor, client or reporter does.
- Assume every private message can become a public screenshot.
- Don’t post while drunk, furious or trying to win an argument at 1 a.m.
- Decide how to handle trolls, complaints, stalkers and political fights — and realize some people may just be trying to get you to do something stupid.
- Assume someone is recording at concerts, games, restaurants and station events.
- When you’re wrong, own it quickly. Don’t add three days of lies and excuses.
This is routine in other fields. Comedians prepare for hecklers. Athletes go through sensitivity and personal conduct training. Preparation doesn’t make talent less authentic. It keeps one impulsive moment from ending a career way too soon.
Don’t run from social. Use it. Make noise. Have opinions. Build an audience.
Just remember: every post can become a witness. Every screenshot can become an exhibit. One day, your timeline may be called to testify against you.
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