I've been doing a lot of thinking and reflecting this week around social media comments and conversations. I'm always surprised by what people actually do and say on the internet via blog comments. Sometimes they are hurtful, malicious, angry, and just plain ridiculous. Other comments are inspirational, encouraging, relevant, and fun. All internet activity is trackable, searchable, and findable. It's out there on the world wide web. I'm working hard to conduct a personal social media gut check when posting on the internet.

• Face Value. Would you say this comment to a person's face? How would they react and would you be able to go to bed a night feeling you did what was right?

• The Mom Meter. Pretty easy to see where I am going with this. Would your mom be proud if this kind of comment, message, or voicemail was publicized with your name attached to it. Would she be smile and call you her son or daughter?

• Strategy. Does leaving your digital footprint on this website, social media account, or blog align with your own business or personal strategy? Do you have a strategy or does it speak to who you are as an individual, mother, son, daughter, or father?

As a brownie Girl Scout I was always told to leave the camp site better than you found it, I and believe your social media comments should be no different, and in these digital times online comments and conversations don't go away. Be honest, be open, and be you, but remember like diamonds comments are forever.

And if you would, I encourage you to please check out my intern, Blake Mcammon's blog post and consider this very post when reading, A Brief History of Gen Y.

Photo Credit Lisburn City.