Nearly everyone who has a computer knows what a social media site is, but were you aware that your surfing and posting on social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter can–and actually has–undermined many different workers compensation claims.

That’s correct, Facebook can undermine your compensation claim.

Just as you’re aware of Facebook and other social media websites, so too are the attorneys and staff that are working on the side of the insurance company who may not believe that your workers compensation claim is legitimate. Facebook is an open book for those attorneys and staff to peruse unless you do something about your privacy settings.

How can Facebook and other sites hurt your workers compensation claim? When you create a profile on those places, you’re often not up on the settings that permit you to only let friends see your profile and your images. You are connecting for social reasons, but attorneys and others are connecting to investigate the things that you place on your page. Your facebook profile may have a recent image of you just attending a picnic or playing a game at a family gathering… that photo may just be enough to assure that you’re not able to attain the compensation that you deserve. Even if the photo is one that shows you standing on the sidelines, it can be inferred from the photo that you are participating in the game and that your injury claim is not an honest one.

USE PRIVACY settings on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites to assure that your profile and your photos are visible only to those who are not actively seeking to deny you a claim for workers compensation. Pay attention to what your settings actually are and that you have your profile set to family and friends only. Lock down your online privacy on social media, or better still, until your workers compensation claim is decided, don’t post on social media sites and ask your friends to refrain from posting images and comments about you.