A bill has been making its way through the New Jersey legislature that would implement a social media curriculum for middle school students. The bill, which passed 37-2 in the Senate this month, would require the course to instruct students on “cyber safety, cyber security, and cyber ethics.”

The New York City Department of Education has also released a media guide for students 13 years old and older. The guide was created after recommendations from students, parents, and school administrations. It aims to instruct students on the same issues as the New Jersey bill.

Another main argument for the social media instruction is that it will teach students how to market themselves. For students, portraying themselves in a positive and professional image will help impress college admission officers, and them to be successful as they enter the career world.

The issue of portraying oneself positively and professionally online doesn’t just lie with students; many adults are guilty of things like over sharing, negativity, and general inappropriateness on social media sites. Our potential and current employers, colleagues, clients, acquaintances are just a few of the people who view our online profiles. For many situations, our social media profiles draw the first impression people have of us. Here are some tips on building your brand and making that impression a positive one:

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