Your online image is more important than ever - here are 5 ways it can make or break you

You're hardly the only person who's ever Google-stalked a crush or scoured a future employer's Facebook page. In fact, there's a really good chance that the person or the company has done exactly the same reconnaissance on you.

What they find can have a profound impact on your relationship (or potential relationship) with them. Which is to say: The "real you," or your personal brand, now encompasses your behavior in face-to-face interactions and your behavior online.

Below, Business Insider has rounded up five examples of times when you might be judged -fairly or unfairly - based on your online presence.