The Dangers in Blogging
I have heard many a blogger say
that blogging fills a need. While blogging provides
a humanizing effect on news and journaling, it
also opens a window into personal lives. The details
shared in blogs were once only available to a
select group of friends, and while blogging has
become common place, it has risks that should
not be ignored.
Cyberstalking is a new phenomenon
that allows anonymous online stalkers to prowl
for victims. Online bloggers traditionally provide
personal details about their lives. As a result,
many women that blog are becoming victims. Most
people are concerned about children on the Internet
and set up rigorous posting guidelines for children,
adolescents, and teenagers, but few adults heed
the warnings and often do not consider that they
too can be targeted.
Females, in particular, should be
cautious when circumnavigating the blogosphere.
If you are a blogger or contemplating an online
journal, consider these tips to protecting your
identity:
Do not have an online profile.
Most blogging services allow bloggers to create
an online profile. While it might be fun to post
information about likes and dislikes, it is best
to refrain from posting any personal details.
Often, personal details inadvertently provide
insight into physical location or habits. The
aggregate information in a personal profile can
also assist someone interested in pursuing an
individual.
Post anonymously.
Manage your blog anonymously or adopt an alias
for all online posting. This will help protect
you in the event that you draw unwanted attention.
Avoid personal or identifying
details.
Avoid any personal or identifying details when
posting in your blog. Do not post in advance about
locations that you will be or about areas that
you live near.
No photos.
Refrain from posting a picture. Photos can invite
trouble or unwanted attention.
Avoid inappropriate dialogue.
Be careful not to engage in dialogue that could
be interpreted in a way that it was not intended.
Sometimes humorous threads can get out of hand.
If the dialogue degrades to an area that makes
you uncomfortable, disengage from the dialogue
and refrain from further posting. Also when making
decisions about individuals online, consider their
past posting behavior and attempt to consider
their true intentions.
Lurkers.
Always remember that just because you do not have
a dialogue with someone does not mean that they
are not reading everything that you write. Many
people merely lurk on line and don't engage in
comment posting, but do read what is written.
Your audience could be much larger than you realize.
Timeless.
Internet content is timeless, and keep in mind
that even if you remove content, it might be archived
or syndicated. If you do not want something read,
do not post it to the Internet. High Schools,
Colleges and Employers all search the Internet
to discern an individuals history. Sordid details
about a late night will not help land a coveted
job.
The internet is a haven for all
types of predators. Always remember that just
because someone says something is true, does not
mean that it is. Predators adopt personas of who
they think you want them to be. Just as we provide
guidelines to young children, adults should be
wary and take precautions when posting online
as well.
While blogging can be a great outlet
and channel, and in someway immortalizing thoughts,
it is important that safety is considered and
that good blogging practices are followed at all
times.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll
http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS
feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages
marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage.net
a wireless text messaging software company.
|