HI it’s Dave here,
I do hope that you have had a great week
so far. I also hope that you enjoy
reading these posts as much as I enjoy writing them. This week’s post is quite a biggie so here goes:-
Social Media is one of the biggest revolutions in communication
of the late 20th early 21st Centuries. There are very few people without a mobile
phone and therefore, by definition, they have access to the Internet and thus
Social Media.
I am often surprised to discover that there is yet another
new platform to enable me to communicate with my fellow inhabitants of the tiny
speck of space matter we call Earth.
When I was a child at school I was amazed that we had a
telephone installed in the house and that I could talk at length to my
girlfriend 20 miles away just by dialling a few numbers. Several years later we had a push button
phone and to be honest I thought that was the extent of the technical advances
in communication………….oh how wrong was I?
However, alongside these huge steps forward we initially did
not realise that we were, in fact, becoming more vulnerable. Our
personal security was becoming threatened, as was our safety and ultimately
this reduced security was to impact on our families and friends with amazing
rapidity.
As a result (of this) people have had to learn very quickly
(and sadly, often to their cost) that the internet is also a place of hiding
for people whose behaviour is less than desirable. I have therefore created this post to help
illuminate this problem and to offer some tips and advice on ways that you can
Stay Safe On The Internet
When “Online” becomes “Offline”
Right at the beginning let me please say the internet (or as
some people still call it the World Wide Web), is an extremely exciting
place. It is like having a whole truck
load of encyclopaedia at your finger tips. All that information is wonderful,
but on the other hand it can also tell people where you are. For
example, how many times have you made arrangements to meet somebody (via your
timeline) at a certain place at a certain time?
I know that I have done so inadvertently in the past…. Now what you are
saying in reality is
a) that
you are going to be in a certain place
b) that
you are going to there at a certain time
c) that
you are going to be away from your home
d) you
may also be indicating that you are going to be alone.
So what can you do about it?
Well for starters
a) don’t
publicly broadcast what your are doing
b) if
you must make arrangements via your timeline, then always choose somewhere that
you visit regularly and where you are known (make it a habit to go to that same
place, become a regular and get to know the staff)
c) if
possible make someone you know and trust aware of your plans and timings,
advise that you will be clear by a certain time and will contact them to assure
them of your safety.
Now let us consider
Family and / or Friends
This is something that we often don’t think about when we
begin to use Social Media websites!
Let me ask you a question – Do you post pictures of yourself
with your brother or sister, mum or dad, your best friends?
This leads on to my next question which is “Have you ever
thought that as a result of doing this people your friends and family do not
know might recognise them? And can you
imagine where that might lead?
The simple thing here is – not everyone wants to be
recognised by complete strangers so make sure that you ask them if it is ok to
post their image on Social Media before you do so!
If you don’t want it
in the papers don’t do it!
How would you feel if your behaviour from that Saturday
night where you behaved in a less than ladylike (or gentlemanly) fashion ended
up on the front page of the local paper
for the whole community to see?
Now a local newspaper would be bad enough but imagine if it
was posted on Social Media and the post went viral. Could you honestly say that you would be
happy for your naked chest or that up-skirt shot, that you found so funny, was
being seen globally complete with your name and possibly even those of your
friends?
So quite simply
If
you would not be happy about it – don’t do it!
Give Away Your Location – and possibly much
more.
Pretty cool to take a photo on your phone as you are leaving
home isn’t it?
Let’s say you are going to a wedding, or to a party – all
dressed up in your finery. You have left
the radio and a light on but you come back and you have been burgled.
How did they know there was nobody home? I can almost hear the moans as I write this –
You gave them all the clues that the house was most likely unattended!
How?
Because you posted that photo with a comment like “here we
are off to so and so’s evening wedding reception” on Facebook etc. not thinking
that it shows the time and date of the post - silly!!!!
Your have now
successfully completed Lesson #1 in how to make it easy for a thief.
Privacy / Anonymity does not compute with
Social Media
Do not assume that what you post is private because it
rarely is! – “if you don’t want it read, don’t let it be said” is a favourite
maxim of mine.
Somewhere, somehow whatever you post is recorded and it is
often available to people that you don’t want to see it - via a friend of a
friend etc etc,
So whilst the internet is a fantastic tool please remember
this
“if you have a gun that can kill someone then at some point in the
future someone might be able to get hold of that gun and kill you”.
Harsh words but true!
Enjoy your time with Social
Media by all means but if you want to protect yourself and those you love - Be
careful what you do and say on ALL the Social Media pages.
Acknowledgements
If this post has made you think about how
you act, or if it has prompted any questions, then please feel free to add them
as a comment in the box below or to email me:- thedavebaxter@mail.com
About Dave I am a
coach; speaker; radio presenter and founder of The Blue Sky Company. I am
also a therapist and co-own a virtual light centre called The Crystal Spring. My
therapy work includes music therapy; reiki; crystal therapy
LINKS
Blue Sky Company www.moonshadowmedia.wixsite.com/bluesky
Wytchwynd Photography www.moonshadowmedia.wixsite.com/photographportfolio
I have recently discovered that a book
written by a friend of mine is available via Amazon so I would like to share a
link to that book with you. This lady is
an amazing person and I am sure that if you have enjoyed reading my blog you
will also find her work of interest.
Have a fantastic day and live a life of
Passion and Power.
And above all
Don't Predict The Future - CREATE IT!
DAve
x
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