Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

What you post says a great deal about you. Just as what I write can show you who I really am. It can also tell others things about you that you may not want to say. Posting online is too easy and often says things that are interpreted in a negative light.

I am a minister, and those who know this expect certain types of behavior from me. No, I am not talking about being boring or not having fun. If I use what are considered inappropriate words or am seen in unsavory places, they may view me as not being what they think a minister should be.

There are people that you can influence in the positive and the negative by the posts that you make. Parents, keep this in mind even before you allow your children the opportunity to use social media. They have friends, and these schoolmates may share what they see since they get to do things before your children.

You don’t have to worry about me being in a crowd where there are beer bottles or wine glasses sitting on the tables. I don’t drink and do not usually attend parties where drinks are served. If you see a photograph of me in such a situation, it has probably been enhanced by AI.

Many businesses now check your social media accounts when they are checking your references. They won’t ask for your information because it is simple to track you on almost all the media outlets. Be careful of what goes out to the rest of the world. “They” are watching. “They” can be anyone, even the companies that you apply to.

Another thing that you need to be aware of is that even people who are not your friends can access your posts and pictures of where you are and what you are doing may alert criminals that your home is vacant. Your address is easy to find. The more information you put on social media, the easier it is to steal your identity or belongings.

As an experiment, I have made notations of names, birth dates, and other information we are asked for in doctors’ offices and other locations. When I entered this information in a search engine, I was amazed at what I found about people I did not know. Keeping anything private is more difficult than we think it is.

We need to teach each other from our own mistakes. I never had to worry about these things for my first forty years. We older adults are some of the biggest targets for scammers and identity thieves. We may think we are wise, but don’t test your intelligence by being a victim of a cyberattack.

©Copyright 2026 by Charles Kensinger