Being a college student, it’s not uncommon to see a plethora of booze-filled, raunchy photos while scrolling on my Instagram and Facebook feeds. We’ve all been there—maybe a friend tagged you in a distasteful photo or perhaps you drunkenly put something that you shouldn’t have up on your story.

However, whatever the case, listen up, fellow students: it’s important to be cautious of what you put on your social media accounts.

I know, I know — I probably sound like a nagging mom, but hear me out.

You’ve probably heard about employers looking job candidates up on social networks, but too many of us disregard this possibly when navigating our day-to-day activity on social media. I believe that it is every employer’s right to view your social media accounts, A.K.A. “creep” on current and potential employees…. Just as it is your right to “creep” on your potential new roommate or that person your friend set you up on a date with. Same idea.

Social media is your digital identity — it’s your footprint online. I’ve always been a strong believer in maintaining your social media accounts as you would maintain your physical self in everyday life. It’s totally up to you how you choose to present yourself, but I think everyone should do so with care and caution. I view my social media accounts as informal portfolios of my identity. You won’t see me posting raunchy, drunken photos of myself or bashing someone in my latest Facebook status. Nope. Count me out.

I think the most important point to justifying employers’ consideration of social media through the hiring process is understanding that once you are an agent of a company, you represent it. Most people, no matter what they do, are a part of something larger than themselves.

How you choose to convey yourself online, whether on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or Snapchat, is how you choose to convey whatever companies or institutions you are a part of. That matters.

It’s foolish to shed a negative light not only on yourself but the variety of entities that you identify with. If I ever become an employer myself, you can bet that I’ll be creeping on my applicants during the hiring process. You can count on me keeping tabs on their online behavior.

In the meantime, I’ll be polishing my own social media accounts to make sure they’re an appropriate and accurate depiction of who I am. You should, too, because you never know— that picture of you sloshed on game day might just end up being the reason you lose a valuable opportunity someday, which is SO not worth it.