Every January, I clean and organize my office, clean up the files on my computer - and check the internet to see if my name or the images that I have posted on this blog have been made it to the public - for all to see and gain information. So far so good. I've been blogging on different platforms since the late 1990s. I started because my Christian Counselor told me it would be a good therapeutic outlet and she's been right.
1. Ideally coming up with an anonymous pen name can actually be fun. If you do choose to use your real name, consider listing your first name only.
2. Check Your Privacy Settings
This is a biggie no matter where your online presence is.
Google your blog name - and if it comes up in the Search Engines, along with all your photos of your family - and your home and you don't want that much public exposure it might be time to change your privacy settings. To do that, you go to Settings
The default setting is green. It may take weeks until the search engines have caught up. I check every three months. I no longer have an internet presence. That makes me feel safe.
Of course, some Bloggers who have taken other safety precautions (and it can be done if checked up regularly) may want an internet presence to promote their blog for monetary gain and marketing influence. I had a couple of blogs Years Ago, where I made a little money off Google ads - so I wanted the search engines to find me.
I started this blog and my other blog that I closed in 2020 - using nicknames for my husband and my sons. Firstly because they asked me to. I honor that. Also no recent photos. However, one time I failed - I posted a photo of my niece who had just passed away, and her adorable toddler daughter in a hijab and I received some hateful comments that scared me. You never know who is reading your blog. I only have about 47 followers - yet I get over *200+ blog views a day. I felt violated and that blog that I had had for years I deleted it. It wasn't safe anymore.
Did you know...*50% of blog views are automated visits – can be up to 50% of a website’s total traffic. With the new advancements in artificial intelligence, bot traffic is becoming even more omnipresent.
I kept my town secret until we had our fires and I just threw caution to the wind. I needed to write about it all.
4. Protect Login Details
It’s also important to change your password regularly, to avoid someone hacking into your blog and posting something inappropriate. I've not ever had that problem. I do change my password several times during the year. Another reason not to use names and dates - many people still use names and dates in their passwords.
5. Read Before You Hit Publish
I always re-read my blog post (not for spelling and grammar) but from the perspective of a random visitor. Make sure you don’t include any private details.
On the safety of Children, I wrote this back in July about "Sharenting"
https://justwordsonablog.blogspot.com/2023/07/sharenting-and-grand-sharenting.html
https://www.komando.com/
Did you know there is a catty website that gossips about bloggers? They have forums where people discuss the lives of bloggers. It's terrible. I found out about it years ago when I was in sales and marketing. Fortunately, I didn't make the list but I followed one gal who was an Influencer and they raked her over the coals - put out her address, and tried their best to ruin her. She did eventually close down her blog. There is also another forum that rates and gossips about YouTube influencers. Downright mean and nasty.
I won't pass on their links because I don't want to be in their crosshairs. They are that vicious.
Be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves
Matthew 10;16
