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Being Online Does Not Make You Anonymous!
Much like teens, reporters, and bloggers today, famous authors from the 19th and 20th century had to make sure that if they had something important to say, without being identified, they could, hence the creation of pen names. Some of the most famous authors are more well known by their pen name than their birth name. Take for instance Mark Twain and Dr. Seuss, who are actually named Samuel Clemens and Theodor Seuss Geisel. Today it seems like everyone is walking around with at least a handful of pen names via email, Facebook, twitter, and game name accounts.
The news recently is showing both the positive and negative effects of the loss of anonymity online. Stories have been circulating the Internet about “The Kissing Couple,” “Anthony Weiner,” and the hacker groups “Anonymous and Lulzsec.” It took only one day for the kissing couple to be identified, it took Anthony Weiner eleven days to admit to wrongfully suing Twitter, and new articles are still coming out about the information the two hacking groups have been able to expose to the public.
It’s both a good and bad thing at how exposed the Internet is making us all. On the one hand being exposed means that people are now more likely to edit their posts, comments and photos that they send online, thereby protecting them from sharing anything they might regret later. On the other hand with Facebook now letting your friends check you into places or using it’s new face recognition means that someone can know where you are at any given moment and what you look like.
Be aware that there are groups of people ready and able to hack into any of your online accounts: email, banking, Facebook, Twitter...etc. Remember that when you post something online you are leaving a trail. Despite deleting emails, posts and photos, the information that you put online stays somewhere in the system forever. Make sure that you protect your identity.
Here are 6 easy ways to protect your online identity and reputation:
1. Never put any personal contact information online. This includes your home or cell number, personal email address, or physical email address. I might even stray away from putting your place of work online as well.
2. Anyone with a social networking site should try to make it as private as possible. Every few days make sure to go into your Facebook account and check the privacy settings. Many people don’t realize but by adding apps and games to your Facebook page you are allowing this feature to give out all of your private information, such as pictures, to third party members. Protect your identity and keep it private. Only friend people you actually know. No one needs to have 600 friends or followers.
3. If you are using the same password for everything online change them all now. Make sure that you are creating unique password for each site, Facebook, email, Twitter, etc. that does not have any actual words or familiar numbers such as birth dates in it. Don’t store the password on your computer or in your phone and don’t share them with anyone. yellow88 will not keep you too safe but TK55sp**@fg will.
4. Keep the pictures and comments clean. Chances are if you’d feel uncomfortable with your Grandma, teacher, or new boss reading all your posts and seeing your pictures on Facebook, then it’s probably best not to post it. Many people looking to hire new employees do check their social networking sites to see if they can learn anything about you that they won’t like.
5.If you receive an uncomfortable or angering comment or request don’t respond. Teens and adults who troll sites only looking to provoke individuals and make scenes should just be ignored. If you feel like you want to unleash good amount of anger on another commenter, refrain. Doing so might cause your personal reputation harm. There have been a few instances where students, off school property, have been suspended and expelled for their online comments. If you ever receive anything that makes you uncomfortable you can report your concerns to www.cybertipline.org.
6. Check out your digital foot print! Slideshare has a great slideshow to inform you on how to check what trail you’re leaving online. The link is provided here.
Leaving a digital trail on the internet is like leaving your diary open for your family to read. Protect yourself and others, don't post anger online. Your friends will understand that you were just angry at the time, the Internet won't. Posting threatening or hurtful words on the Internet won't disappear. Post responsibly!
Plant your interests to grow your passions!
Elizabeth Lacquement
