I was thinking this after seeing a video that went viral of an American father punishing his teenager by posting a video reply to a Facebook rant about her parents she had done. It didn't take long for people to find his own Facebook page and phone number, etc. While most people were supportive of the father in comments, there were a few people who called the police and child services thinking he was going to harm his kid. He got so many phone calls, he just turned off his phone. He ended up saying if people who knew him wanted to get a hold of him, they knew his email address.
Not that this is particularly unique. Viral videos and posts happen all the time. Basically everyone who's had a Tosh.0 Web Redemption unexpectedly found themselves in the spotlight for something they didn't intend to have thousands (or millions) of people see.
If people were to try and dig up info on me, the most obvious source would be this blog. It's not private and anyone who finds it can read everything. The only people who visit are friends and family, for the most part, and I write my posts expecting that to be my audience. I've been careful not to share things like my address and phone number, but I do recall posting what my personal email address is (after buying my awesome domain). There's other sources of me out there like Twitter (which again is not private), Google + (which no one uses, so no worries there) and the big one... Facebook.
I've been pretty careful to make sure my privacy settings for everything on Facebook are "Friends Only" and that the barest minimum is shared publicly. But every time they change their layout, I find myself having to go through everything again, just to be sure. This latest change to "Timelines" is making it difficult for me to share exactly how I want to share. But I digress.
Anyway, this has motivated me to start going through my online presence and make sure it's "presentable". Just in case the worst (or best) thing happens.
I always worry about that, as well.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago I had a blog that I just shared with families and friends. I didn't have anything compromising on there, but I did have pictures of my kids and their names.
I sent a letter to the editor to the local paper and someone disagreed with what I said and sent threatening messages to my blog, once they had unearthed it.
Although my blog was only searchable by my email, this person obviously worked for the paper (because I sent the letter to the editor through email), it really shook me up.
That's why I don't use names on my blog anymore, and I am super paranoid about what is posted on fb.
Plus, that whole sexting scandal that was reported on CHCH took place here (at the local Catholic school) and it makes you realize how easy it is for people to unearth your online presence.
I found myself in a bit of hot water once because of a blog post. My boss was reading it, but I didn't think he'd have found it because it was a sub-page on a friend's blog. My boss had been searching for the company I worked for and came across what I'd written on my experiences. Since then I never use the name of my company in anything private. I don't worry too much about Facebook since I only let friends see what's up there.
ReplyDeleteLMW, I remember that incident. Even when you're careful, what can you do when someone abuses their position (at the paper, in this case). Even without the corrupt crazies, I can understand how you have to be extra careful compared to me with a family and all.
ReplyDeleteSean, I didn't know about that. Hopefully not too much hot water. I try to keep the work talk on my blog to a bare minimum and when I do talk about it, I leave the complaining about my job right out. My assumption is that my bosses will read it (even though they don't).
All in all, I just wonder what people could dig up about me, if they really wanted to. I have 472 posts now over the past 8 years, it would be a large undertaking to go through it all and clean it up.
Why clean it up at all? Keep it as it is, but just remove it from the internet.
ReplyDeleteI know! I should print it out and distribute it by mail.
ReplyDeleteWant to subscribe to my newsletter?