In modern times the best and fastest way to spread information is through the internet, but as it has proven time and time again, this can be good or bad. With all the social networking websites, two of the largest being Facebook and MySpace it is possible to share anything you want to, when ever you want. Within hours your information is available for the world to see and share. It has happened time and time again when someone posted a picture, or comment and the next day they think "that was a bad idea" unfortunately the next day might be too late. If just one person views a comment you wrote or a picture you posted it is possible for that one person to share with another and exponentially all of a sudden the picture or quote becomes viral and spreads throughout cyberspace. This can happen in a matter of days and sometimes hours.

Content that has been posted on personal websites, blogs or social network sites has done more than just embarrass people. There have been cases when people have lost their jobs, their credibility and even in extreme cases when the content has been so embarrassing people have committed suicide because of it. In the law enforcement profession officers are encouraged not to put personal information or pictures on the internet. What you say in the internet can also, and has, been used in court in order to either create or ruin the credibility of an officer.

There have been several high profile cases (I will not mention so not to promote the spread of content) that have changed people's lives forever. Often it all been started by either an innocent prank that got out of control or the direct intention of harming someone.

What it all comes down too is do not put something on the internet that you even remotely believe you will regret later. Remember to be smart and don't put any pictures or any statements that could possibly hurt you now or anytime in the future.

It's important to think of the future and not just next week, you must think years down the line. What you put on the internet now can come back to haunt you 10 years from now when you are sitting down in an interview trying to get that perfect job. It only takes a few minutes and no money to do some quick research to see what type of person you are. If an employer just happens to come across some material that makes you out to be a type of person they don't want to hire than you might have just lost your job only because of a picture you put on the internet years before.

Be smart and don't publicize anything that you do not want everyone to know. Remember that what you put on the internet will reflect the type of person you are. Just because it is cyberspace or virtual reality does not mean someone will think what you put on cyberspace is what you are in reality.