Sometimes the internet can give us the feel of total anonymity.
You can join twitter, a message board, start a blog, etc. and simply make up a user name and find a picture to use as an avatar instead of using your name and your face. You feel safe that you can say anything that you want behind the mask of your user name.
I know because I have done all of the above in the past. Not to be vicious but to be anonymous. There have been times in my life where I was having issues with other people, whether on a business or personal level, and I didn’t feel that I could talk to anyone in real life about it.
So I turned to the internet to find others who could offer me support and a pat on the back.
I was always really careful not to use any details that would reveal who I really was nor did I give out reviewing details about the people that I needed help with. I was pretty clever in using false locations, changing details of scenarios, etc. I figured that if I was airing dirty laundry in the name of seeking support I really needed to be careful not give away any information that could even have the remote possibility of coming back to the other person in a negative way.
Though I had no idea about ISP addresses or any of that. Anything that I’ve ever typed can pretty much be brought back to me regardless of all of my efforts toward anonymity. Though at least it will still be hard for the average individual to hunt down what I said about them unless they are really computer savvy.
I’m sure that you have heard the stories on the news of people getting fired from their jobs because of things that they have posted online. Pictures on myspace or facebook. I’ve also heard on the news that prospective employers will see what they can find about an interviewee before hiring as well as college admissions staff doing the same for prospective students.
The Blogging Goddess shares her recent experience tweeting about her boss to her one follower which got her fired.
It can be a scary thought especially when you think of kids who are using the internet at such a young age. They don’t think much about the far reaching consequences of what they put out there, that the pictures they post will not necessarily be completely deleted from the internet’s history as there are sites that keep track of what websites used to look like.
Generation X Mom discusses some of the ways that kids need guidance in their online adventures.
Even as a blogger we need to be careful about what we say and tweet. I highly recommend reading The CopyBlogger’s post The Responsible Blogger’s Guide to Dealing with Big Brother. I was very surprised (though not worried) to hear that the library of congress is planning on archiving everyone’s tweets!
What are your thoughts on all of this?
Wow…thank you for sharing. I am careful what I share especially when it comes to other. I think it is important to speak in a general way when it comes to the privacy of other. I appreciate the post, it is a great reminder to be safe. take care, Amy
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Thanks for linking to my guest post over on Copyblogger about blogging ethics – I’m glad you found it useful enough to share with your audience!
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I’ve definitely learned that you NEVER KNOW who’s reading your blog/tweets/facebook statuses. It’s almost a little bit creepy. I try to be as up front as I can about my identity and then I try not to say anything online about someone that I wouldn’t say directly to them. Because I know they’re going to find out about it somehow. I also try to keep it clean. If a future employer doesn’t want to hire me, it’s not going to be over scandalous photographs. That’s for sure!
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I am back…I was awarded the Lovely Blog award recently and was asked to pass it forward; I really enjoy reading your post, so I thought of your blog and want you to have the Lovely Blog award. Please go to my recent posting for details:
http://mommetime.com/2010/09/25/one-lovely-blog-award.aspx
Thanks, Amy
Amy invites you to read… Wordless Wednesday
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I’m always astounded at how many people think that they’re online profiles are private. My rules are to never post about work or people at work and I don’t friend coworkers unless we’re friends outside the office.
One new rule is not to discuss people I don’t like – there’s no point to airing dirty laundry and it doesn’t resolve any issue.
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It is so true. Anyone with any kind of tech knowledge can find you. It is very scary. I try to instill this in my kids, but at their age it is hard to see the reality of it all. I also see it in adults. So much information out there is being shared. I hesitate often. Such a scary world. BTW- thanks for the mention
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Oh, yes, My poor Blogging Goddess.
That said, there are some tweets I read that I can’t believe.
Maybe they will find out the hard way. You always have to be a bit conservative.
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Stacy Reply:
October 8th, 2010 at 10:27 am
Thank you for your post, Alexandra. I too have seen people put things online that I couldn’t believe. It’s always best to stop and think before you hit that submit button!
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We have to understand that Twitter and public and we can’t just put any thoughts that comes out of our minds. There are people that can be affected by our reckless expression so we need to be responsible.
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Stacy Reply:
October 8th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Thank you for your comment, Walter. You are right that we really need to be responsible when putting our thoughts online!
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This is so true, Stacy. Great reminder. I absolutely love copyblogger too and read everything in its entirety that they send my inbox. Thanks for being another great resource for me. Blessings, Amy
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Stacy Reply:
October 8th, 2010 at 9:51 am
Amy, thank you for your comment! I really appreciate it, and yes copyblogger is a GREAT resource!
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I don’t say anything online (no matter how “secure” I think it is) that I’d be ashamed of, or that I think would get me into trouble. Just a personal rule.
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Stacy Reply:
October 8th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Serene, thank you for your comment and sharing your online rule – it’s a great one!
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I’ve always felt that the ‘let it all hang out’ thinking that seems to prevail with bloggers is all going to come round and bite them in the ass, at some point… in the old days, we followed an Aesop Fable about keeping secrets. The only way to prevent gossip and secrets from coming back is to tell it into a hole in the ground THAT WILL NEVER BE PLANTED! Because seeds grow and the wind will carry the story… When we wanted to vent, we wrote a letter THAT WE NEVER MAILED! It was just to get the words out of our heads and be done with it. The next step was to burn that letter. I see people posting dates they won’t be home, pictures of their children and family members who probably have not given permission to use them in the blogs. Just because it’s available doesn’t mean folks have the right to do what they couldn’t do before the Internet… I don’t know what we can do for the kids, today, to stop them from destroying their futures because of stupid postings… that’s a whole new can of worms and I hope it can be worked out, soon. Just because you have a thought doesn’t mean you have to share it — you have to think of the consequences and be willing to take responsibility for the damage caused. We need help.
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Stacy Reply:
October 8th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Sharlene, thank you for your comment! You make excellent points about productive ways to deal with venting. Thank you for sharing them!
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The good thing about the internet is that we can assume different identities and get different perspectives. The bad thing about the internet is we can never know for certain who we are speaking to (unless video chatting).
It has it’s advantages and disadvantages but overall it’s a wonderful place, haha.
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Stacy Reply:
October 8th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Steven, thank you for your comment! I agree, if we are careful and wise the internet can be a very wonderful place!
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Hi Stacy,
“the library of congress is planning on archiving everyone’s tweets!” – Hmmmm I don’t like the sound of that at all but then I have to say I am pretty careful about what I tweet about.
You are right though about warning people on this. As you suggest I have heard some horror stories about how quick little tweets ended in tears and litigation for some.
A great idea for a post.
~Marcus
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Stacy Reply:
October 8th, 2010 at 9:46 am
Marcus, I didn’t like the sound of that either but then again I don’t tweet anything personal. Mostly I retweet other people’s great posts, like yours!
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Hi Stacy,
Wow! Lots of great information. I have learned a few months ago that basically everything you publish on the web stays out there forever. So I have been very careful about what I put out there. Better safe than sorry
Great post!
Ilka
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Stacy Reply:
October 8th, 2010 at 9:45 am
Ilka, thank you for another great comment! It’s definitely better to be safe than sorry online! You never know who is looking at what!
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I use a pen name on one of my blogs that deals with personal issues. And on my FB page, I don’t post pictures of my family. I try to be mindful of what I post and usually just send private messages.
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Stacy Reply:
October 8th, 2010 at 9:44 am
Lisa, it sounds like you are wise online!
I’m sure it will pay off for you! Thank you for another great comment!
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Great advice. It is such a fine line sometimes but I like the commenter who says to err on the side of caution. Good advice
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Stacy Reply:
October 8th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Melissa, thank you for your comment! It’s definitely best to err on the side of caution!
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I wasn’t really actually aware of this until I read your post. I guess I have to release my discord against my supervisor elsewhere.
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Stacy Reply:
October 8th, 2010 at 9:43 am
I’m glad that I could help!
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Hi Stacy,
Wow… This makes me glad that I didn’t have internet access when I was young and overly impulsive.
People need to be careful of anything they put out online. It’s all out there, even blog comments, for anyone who searches your name on Google.
Thanks for sharing!
Susanna
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Stacy Reply:
October 8th, 2010 at 9:42 am
Susanna, good point about even our blog comments being picked up by google! Thank you for sharing!
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Really great post! I think it’s a case of “you never know” who’s reading or watching. Plus, what you say can get kicked up in a Google search weeks or months later! I love what another reader said– good thing all this SM stuff wasn’t around when I was younger!
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Stacy Reply:
October 8th, 2010 at 9:29 am
Melissa, thanks for your comment! You’re right, we never really know who’s looking at what we put online. Even if we think it’s secure.
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Stacy,
I read your post. It was very interesting!
Internet is like the world outside. Writing on a blog, making a friend on Twitter, finding people’s blogs online etc, it’s like knocking somebody’s door while we are walking down a street in our City! We somehow know our neighbors but we don’t know everyone further from our block.
How can we be so social online, saying anything we want and sometimes don’t even talk to our neighbors or others that are closer to us? Is it because some people feel lonely?
Internet gives too much freedom and not security!
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I never write anything that I wouldnt mind my mother in law reading. Cause she probably is. I’m just careful. I don’t want to offend or upset people I care about. But I also don’t want to leave a trail of…grossness. LOL
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Stacy Reply:
April 18th, 2011 at 9:07 am
Hi Michelle,
That’s a good rule of thumb to blog and tweet by!
Stacy
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As a blogger, make sure you provide quality, relevant and valuable content to keep your followers. If you’re promoting a product for instance, avoid making your tweets too forceful in the way they advertise as you might lose your followers very quickly.
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Stacy Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Great point!
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I talked to a person who was interviewing job candidates and who also mentioned that one applicant had too much activity on Facebook and Twitter. Viewed it as a waste of time.
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Stacy Reply:
January 10th, 2012 at 10:27 am
I believe it!
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