We recently learned about a NASA intern who lost his job after making a mistake on social media. Max Hunt, then 23, had recently graduated from college when he applied for a summer internship with NASA. Unfortunately, one of the agency’s managers was drawn to his online presence and decided to check out his social media accounts.
Max, it turns out, had been posting on Facebook and Twitter about his love of science fiction and space exploration. Unfortunately, this did not correspond to the agency’s vision for their intern; they desired someone who could focus on promoting their research online.
After reviewing Max’s social media accounts, the manager decided to fire him despite the fact that he had done nothing wrong! Max’s story serves as a reminder to be cautious about what you post online if you want to keep your job – even if it’s just an internship!
If you’re thinking about applying for a job or internship and are concerned about the appearance of your social media profiles, check out our blog post on how to create professional social media profiles!
The story of the intern
NASA intern Nick Morrell was fired because he made a mistake on social media. “I’m not a scientist,” Morrell said in a tweet. I’m not qualified for the position. “However, I am qualified to resign.” Because of this tweet, he was fired from his job at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Morrell’s tweet was in response to Donald Trump’s tweet, which said, “I think the world would be a better place if we had scientists who were also great diplomats.” Morrell believed he could outperform scientists who served as diplomats and decided to share his thoughts on social media. Morrell’s tweet was deemed inappropriate, and he was fired from his position at NASA. Morrell is currently looking for work and has apologized for his tweet.
Tweets from the intern
NASA intern fired for failing to think things through on social media
A recent NASA intern who lost his job due to some unfortunate tweets has shown us all that even the brightest of us make mistakes.
Jack Sharkey, 22, of Connecticut, was recently fired from NASA after tweeting a satirical take on the space shuttle program. The tweet featured a mocked-up image of the space shuttle with the caption “Can we please get #shuttlefail trending?”
Although the tweet was intended as a lighthearted dig at the show, some of his followers interpreted it as disrespectful. Jack’s manager eventually learned about the tweet and concluded that it was the reason for Jack’s dismissal.
Although this story appears to be a cautionary tale about the dangers of social media, it actually serves as a reminder that no matter how clever we think our tweets are, they can still get us in trouble. Even if we have nothing incriminating to show for our Twitter antics, they can cost us our jobs.
Social media posts by the intern
John, the NASA intern who lost his job due to poor judgment on social media, was hired as a summer intern in 2016. John was fired from NASA after sending a divisive tweet about the International Space Station.
In an interview with The Verge, John stated that he never intended to cause any trouble and that he regrets tweeting. “I certainly didn’t intend for my tweet to cause any trouble or get me into any kind of trouble,” John explained. “I made a mistake and learned from it,” he says.
Because of its political nature, John’s tweet raised some eyebrows. He replied to the tweet, “Why is everything revolving around Trump?” “Why can’t we have good news?” he asked, prompting some to accuse him of being anti-Trump.
After receiving backlash, John deleted the tweet and apologized to NASA. “I am deeply sorry for causing all of this trouble, and I deeply regret what I said,” John wrote in his apology letter.
Since then, John has launched a social media campaign called “#FreeTheIntern,” with the goal of raising awareness about the dangers of social media.
The ramifications of the intern’s actions
When a NASA intern decided to use social media to express his dissatisfaction with his job, he quickly realized the consequences of his actions. The intern, who has not been identified, was fired after a series of tweets criticizing the organization and its employees. The intern stated in one tweet that he “didn’t want to work for NASA anymore because it was a waste of time.”
The intern’s tweets quickly drew the attention of journalists, who began to inquire about the situation with the organization. NASA officials were initially hesitant to comment, but eventually confirmed that the intern had been fired. Officials did not explain why the intern was fired, but they did say they value “professionalism and respect” in their employees.
The intern’s dismissal is a clear example of the risks of publicly criticizing your employer online. By making disparaging comments about his workplace on social media, the intern put himself in jeopardy of losing his job. He could have avoided being fired entirely if he had taken more time to consider his actions before posting.
How can social media affect your career?
Background: In recent years, the intern story has become all too common. Young adults, particularly those in their early to mid-20s, frequently believe that anything they post on social media is public information and can be viewed by anyone, regardless of whether they have a legitimate reason to do so. As a result, they frequently post things without fully considering the implications or consequences of their actions. In this case, the intern was fired not because he made any egregious mistakes while working at NASA, but because he failed to properly vet his social media posts before posting them.
While there are times when it’s appropriate to share personal information on social media (for example, if you’re discussing a health issue you’re currently dealing with), there are also times when it’s not. For example, if your company has strict policies regarding what can and cannot be shared on social media, it’s probably not a good idea to post pictures from your private dinner party or candid conversation with your boss on Facebook. It’s critical to remember that what you say and do online is seen by a large number of people.
Conclusion
Shawn Lockwood, a 21-year-old NASA intern, was looking forward to a bright future. His life took a turn for the worse after he tweeted about being “disappointed” with the Trump administration. Lockwood’s tweets were interpreted as critical of Trump, and as a result, he lost his job with NASA, which has had a significant impact on his personal life and career prospects. Remember that anything you post online can have serious consequences; take your time before posting anything controversial or sensitive, just to be safe.
Be the first to comment