How Reputation-Savvy Are You? Reputation Quiz for Teens and Parents by:Hannah Samuel

Social-networking sites have become part of the modern age for young people

. They can be a great way to keep in touch and share information. However, they can also be breeding grounds for malicious gossip, false information and by cyber-bullying of others.

Answering the questions below - the first 10 are for teens, the second 10 for parents and caregivers - will give you an insight into how reputation-savvy you may be online. It will also give you a good opportunity to talk through the issues raised and perhaps decide how you might act if similar scenarios arise in your lives.

Circle the answer for each question and add up your points using the score-calculator at the end of the questions.

For Teens:

1. Do you think reputation is important to young people?

A. Yes - it's important to have a good reputation

B. Sometimes - depending on what it relates to

C. No - I don't think reputation matters at all

2. Do you think today's celebrities / singers / sportspeople have a responsibility to be a good role-model for young people?

A. No

B. Yes - sometimes

C. Yes - always

3. Do you think everything reported about celebrities / singers / sportspeople on TV and online is accurate or truthful?

A. Yes - most of the time

B. No - but it's fun reading it

C. No - a lot of it is just other peoples' opinions

4. Do you think what people read and see about you online influences how they feel about you?

A. Yes

B. No

C. Sometimes

5. Do you think adverts on TV are truthful?

A. No

B. Yes - sometimes

C. Yes - always

6. Do you think being honest is something that's still valued today?

A. No - it's too old-fashioned

B. No - nobody's honest all the time

C. Yes - honesty is an important value

7. Gossiping and telling-tales about someone doesn't do any harm. It's just fun. Do you agree?

A. No - but I wouldn't stop someone doing it

B. No - it's always harmful

C. Yes - it doesn't do any harm

8. You see a classmate cheating in an exam. What would you do?

A. Nothing - it's none of my business

B. I'd confront the student about it afterwards

C. I'd tell the teacher or moderator what I saw

9. Your 'friends' on Bebo start dropping you and making nasty comments about you online. What would you do?

A. Remove your profile and just start another one

B. Get back at them by writing mean or untruthful things about them on their profiles

C. Tell an adult your trust and get their support to follow up with them directly

10. A friend tells you they feel like they're being bullied and people are leaving nasty comments about them on their Bebo profile. What would you do?

A. Encourage them to tell an adult they trust so it can stopped

B. Drop them as a friend in your network

C. Ignore it - it's not my problem

Points

Q1: A = 3 B = 2 C = 1

Q2: A = 1 B = 2 C = 3

Q3: A = 1 B = 2 C = 3

Q4: A = 3 B = 1 C = 2

Q5: A = 3 B = 2 C = 1

Q6: A = 1 B = 2 C = 3

Q7: A = 2 B = 3 C = 1

Q8: A = 1 B = 3 C = 2

Q9: A = 2 B = 1 C = 3

Q10: A = 3 B = 2 C = 1

If you scored less than 12 points:

You've yet to understand the power of reputation, but right now is a great time to learn. We live in an era where integrity, trust and honour are beginning to be valued in a whole new way. Be true to yourself and be true to others. Think about what you show others by what you say and the way you behave. Think about some people who you really admire ... and what it is about them that you think is great. If they've got strong personal characteristics, why not start emulating them.

If you scored 13 - 22 points:

By understanding that people make judgments about you based on what others say about you and what they think of you themselves, you are better able to act and behave in ways that help enhance your reputation rather than damage it. Taking a moment to think 'is this likely to enhance my reputation or damage it?' and avoid doing anything you'll ever be ashamed of. While the future may seem like a long way away, think about celebrities who you've seen do dumb things in public and then live to regret it. Determine never to do that to yourself.

If you scored 23 - 30 points:

You know that reputation opens doors or slams them shut - and that knowledge will stand you in good stead throughout your life and career. Keep standing up for what you believe in - you are probably influencing other people in ways you don't even realise. Our world needs more people like you ... show them how to do it by carrying on your great reputation habits.

Parents & Caregivers:

1. Do you believe reputation is important for young people?

A. No - it's of no relevance into today's world at all

B. No - it's only important for adults

C. Yes - it's one of the most precious things you own

2. Do you think you model good reputation behaviours to your children?

A. Yes - most of the time

B. No - I know there are areas I could do better in

C. I've never really thought about it

3. Do you a think prospective employer or recruitment specialist might check online social networking sites like Bebo and YouTube to check-out a young person's online identity / reputation?

A. No - what a young person says and does online is their own business and shouldn't be used to 'check them out'.

B. I'd never considered it - but some might, I suppose

C. Yes - I think more people are doing this and a young person's online reputation is a big influencer these days

4. How do you teach your children about reputation issues?

A. If a major story comes up on the news that's relevant we might discuss it

B. We often talk about reputation, how it affects decisions and how easily it can be damaged

C. I don't - it's not something I've ever thought of

5. You discover one of your son or daughter's close friends is at the centre of an investigation following allegations they have been bullying younger children. What would you do?

A: Demand that your son or daughter break all ties with the friend and steer well clear of the alleged bully.

B: Discuss the situation with your son or daughter and explain how being associated with the friend may damage their own reputation

C: Ignore it. It's nothing to do with you and who your children associate with is irrelevant.

6. Following a minor traffic accident, you discover your son or daughter has breached their promise of never getting in a car with a drunk-driver on several occasions. What would you do?

A: Feel let down and worry about other promises that may have been broken

B: Worry about your own reputation and blame them for bringing the family name into disrepute

C: Explain how breach of trust is one of the biggest reputation damagers there is and how it's almost impossible to repair

7. Do you think information on social-networking sites on the internet like Bebo, YouTube and MySpace, can damage a young person's reputation?

A. No -They're just a bit of harmless fun.

B. No - Most of the information isn't real anyway - everyone uses nick-names and exaggerates things.

C. Yes - some employers and universities are even checking these sites now to see what people say about themselves and what others say about them too. If they're not impressed with what they see, the young person's reputation is likely to be damaged.

8. How confident would you be that your son or daughter would be happy for you to see their online profile in social networking sites they might use?

A. Very confident - I know which sites they have profiles on and view them often

B. Not very confident - I've already been warned not to 'snoop' on them!

C. Not confident at all - I don't even know how I'd go about checking

9. Do you think today's celebrities / singers / sportspeople provide good role models for young people?

A. Yes - it doesn't matter what they do in their private lives

B. Sometimes - if they demonstrate values such as honesty, integrity and respect

C. No - some of today's celebrities have no idea how much influence they have on young people

10. Do you think your children think being honest is something that's still valued today?

A. No - they'd think it's too old-fashioned

B. No - they'd probably say nobody's honest all the time

C. Yes - they know honesty is an important value

Points

Q1: A = 1 B = 2 C = 3

Q2: A = 3 B = 2 C = 1

Q3: A = 1 B = 2 C = 3

Q4: A = 2 B = 3 C = 1

Q5: A = 2 B = 3 C = 1

Q6: A = 2 B = 1 C = 3

Q7: A = 2 B = 1 C = 3

Q8: A = 3 B = 2 C = 1

Q9: A = 2 B = 3 C = 1

Q10: A = 1 B = 2 C = 3

If you scored less than 12 points:

You may not have thought about how important reputation is in our everyday lives and how it opens doors or slams them shut. Sometimes, things you do or say might have not put you in the best light, even though you may not be aware of this. People form opinions and make judgment calls based on a wide variety of information, not all of which is true or positive. Gaining a greater understanding of how to use reputation effectively will stand you in good stead in the future. Act with integrity and build trust and your reputation will be enhanced.

If you scored 13 - 22 points:

Whether you know it or not, you have a reasonable understanding of how reputation can influence decisions and work for us or against us. Continue to think carefully about whether what you do and say might damage or enhance your reputation and you'll stack the odds in your favour more often. You've learned from experience that things aren't always what they seem and sometimes, what people say about themselves is far from the truth. Accepting this and not taking information at face-value is a useful skill to have. Continue to act with integrity, build trust in your relationships and you're reputation will continue to be enhanced.

If you scored 23 - 30 points:

You understand how reputation opens doors or slams them shut - and that knowledge enables you to act wisely in most cases and protect and enhance your reputation. Helping others understand this by modelling positive behaviour around reputation encourages others to see how reputation is not about what you say or do, but about who you are as a person and the values you demonstrate day to day. Keep thinking critically and standing up for what you believe in. You are probably influencing other people in ways you don't even realise. Our world needs more people like you ... show them how to do it by carrying on your great reputation habits.

Hannah's top 'Online Reputation-Savvy' Tips for parents:

1. Openly discuss reputation issues with your children, providing examples of celebrities or people they know, that demonstrate how reputation can open doors or slam them shut

2. Encourage your children to ask the question 'is there more to this than meets the eye?' and not accept everything at face-value

3. Actively model good reputation behaviour whenever you can, especially in terms of thinking things through rather than reacting instinctively

4. Avoid blaming others and making excuses for your behaviour. Remember - you always have a choice. Avoid putting yourself in situations that could reflect badly on you and those around you.

5. Not caring about reputation doesn't mean it doesn't exist. It just means you have less control over it.

About the author

Want to know more? Download Hannah's free special report: 'Reputation Branding Essentials' and opt-in to receive her electronic newsletter, 'Reputationz', at: www.hannahsamuel.com.

Hannah is a specialist reputation advisor, professional speaker, author and founder of online performance-based service directory, TRUSTcite. She regularly comments on issues around reputation, trust and integrity in mainstream media and on her blog www.trustbite.co.nz. Contact her by email on: info@hannahsamuel.com.

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