The prevailing wisdom about young people is that they are not savvy when it comes to managing their on-line reputations — but a new study by the Pew Internet and American Life project says that the opposite is true. Young people are actually much more likely to actively restrict what information they share and with whom they share it.

“Contrary to the popular perception that younger users embrace a laissez-faire attitude about their online reputations, young adults are often more vigilant than older adults when it comes to managing their online identities,” said Mary Madden, Senior Research Specialist and lead author of the report.

This, of course, simply confirms what everyone already knows — that your mom is more likely to post something embarrassing on your wall than you are.

Reputation Management and Social Media [Pew Internet]

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