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I can’t believe some of the things people post publicly on these social networks! It’s incredibly important to understand that every time you post something negative about your job, a friend, or someone important to you, there’s a chance that they may find it. That chance is probably much higher than most people think. For example, here are some things that strangers to me have said that I have access to (and if I have access to it, you can bet your bottom dollar that their EMPLOYER has access to it!):
The above comment disappeared shortly after I made that comment. Good for that person for taking it down.
This person, has on his public profile, “Complain about my job”!!!
Above is an example of a more safe post. Note that it was NOT posted to public, but I was in the circle that it was posted to and this parent and I have never met, but now, I know where their kids go to school, that they’re girls, and the exact GPS coordinates of the school. When I commented on her post, she seemed to have gotten a little miffed at me and a little insulted. I wish that hadn’t happened, but, if it helps with her kids’ safety, then it’s well worth getting someone a little miffed at me.
While prepping for this article, I also discovered that posts that were either never private, or were public at one time, then removed, still linger in the cloud. I did a Google search for instances of “hate my job” on Google+ and found a LOT. Here are the first 3 results:
The first one didn’t exist on the user’s public profile anymore (or might never have), but they’re available in a Google search result. I did report this to Google.
Here’s another search for “I hate my boss” on just Google+!
So, the moral of this story is, don’t post anything about anyone you wouldn’t say to their face, because chances are, that comment will never go away and they’ll eventually become aware of it. You can ruin relationships and lose your job. So please, use some common sense and be careful people! This is NOT the economy you need to be looking for a new job in.
Don’t expose yourself or your kids to danger!
Another incredibly dangerous thing I’ve already seen plenty of people do on Google+ do is post that they’re “dropping the kids off”, while at the same time, doing a “check in”, which posts your EXACT LOCATION.
What you’ve essentially done is said,
“Hey internet predator pedophiles, I have kids and I just dropped them off at this EXACT location. And guess what else? I’m leaving, so I’m not there to protect them!”
Seriously folks, NEVER post your location publicly unless there’s a very very good reason to do so.
Other things you should be aware of:
- If you’re going to post photos, make sure you remove the geo-location stored in them before posting. Posting pictures of your kids opening presents on Christmas morning? Guess what, if you have geo-location enabled on your camera and you post the pictures where they’re available publicly, you’ve just shown internet pedophiles what your kids look like and exactly where they live!
- NEVER Announce that you’re going on vacation. That’s the same as saying, “I’m leaving my home and all it’s belongings unguarded beginning on this date and ending on that date, so if you want to break in and steal my stuff, that’s the best time to do it!”
- Don’t “check in” to cool places when you’re on vacation. Again, you’re announcing that you’re far from home. People can either deduce that your house is empty or that your wife and kids don’t have you around for protection.
- Don’t post photos or make ANY MENTION of the vacation you’re on UNTIL YOU GET BACK! There’s no need to let potential thieves know you’re not home. Your vacation photos and stories can wait until you get back. A lot of thieves say it’s easier to steal from people they know, so they just wait for them to announce they’re going out of town, then they “go to town” on your stuff.
- Don’t make a habit of “checking in” with any of the mobile software for any service. You could get caught up in a lie with your boss, your girl/boy friend, or your spouse. You could also reveal a pattern that people could use against you in any number of ways. People don’t need to know where you are and you need for them to NOT know.
- Don’t talk about your home or auto security systems. Nobody needs to know that UNLESS they’re planning to break in and steal your stuff. You NEED for everyone to NOT KNOW ANYTHING about your security system(s).
- Don’t post something unless you’re putting restrictions on who can see it. It’s rare that you need to post publicly. If you DO post something publicly, by all means, think of how your boss, your coworkers, your parents, your grandparents, your aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, kids, teachers, students, clergy, and potential employers would take it.
- Be mindful of the kids that may be following you on all of the social networks you post to. Don’t talk about college drunken parties when your kids or nieces or nephews may be reading (or your boss, or your parents, or your aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, scout leaders, church patrons, etc…) could be reading your posts.
In short, be aware of who has access to your posts now and at all points in the future up to and beyond your (hopefully distant) death. Use common sense!
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Good Luck!
