The concept of privacy had undergone a drastic change in recent years. Almost a decade ago, Facebook was relatively new and other forms of social media like Instagram and Twitter hadn’t taken hold yet. Gradually we have become de-sensitized to the dangers of sharing our photographs and personal information on all social media platforms.
Today we think it routine to click our pictures and post them instantly on our most favored media platform. This is a risky trend. Once your pictures and information are out there anyone can use them. So before you want to advertise to the world what you had for lunch, what you are wearing and feeling, be careful.
My advice would be to be circumspect with your information. And don’t share too much of yourself on social media. Even when you want to tell the world, and all your frenemies that you’re living an ideal life, very few will believe it.

(For the visually challenged writer, the photo is taken from the point of view of a women who is taking a photo of her friend sitting across from her at an outdoor restaurant)
Written for FFFC # 158, hosted by Fandango
#Keepitalive
#FFFC
Absolutely correct. Sound advice Sadje. Well said.
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Thanks Suzette! It’s so important to protect our privacy.
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Yes! Indeed.
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👍🏼
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Back before we got married in September I apparently posted something about “getting married”. One of my sisters called and was pretty nasty (that’s a whole other story) but said I shouldn’t write things on my blog if I don’t want anyone to know. I am really careful now what I say. I probably say more in my comments than in my posts. My blog goes to FB and LinkedIn so I try not to write too much that is personal.
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It took me two years to open up about myself on my blog. But I still don’t share every detail. I’m lucky none of my family reads my blog.
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Yeah, I have tossed it around about not linking it to FB and LinkedIn. The only reason I still do is because I know some people read my blog on FB and because when I build my miniatures it helps the advertising!
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It’s a hard decision to unlink it from FB.
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Interesting and reasonable point Sadje. Caution is needed but there are vast therapeutic anecdotes about social media sharing, and advantages that come with it too. And people still have their deepest secrets. For some, it’s a fantasy life away from very bland or tough living. I wouldn’t deny anyone that.
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That’s true that there are a some benefit too. But too much detail isn’t advisable. It is risky. One can share feelings, but don’t share location.
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yeah, that’s true. though what is freedom then?
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Freedom need not be in advertising your location, your cell number or the names of your family to the worlds. Freedom is living a freer life, unencumbered by trying to appear what one isn’t!
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freedom is being able to share a remarkable place without worries that a stalker will come find you.
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If only all people were trustworthy!
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I might be guilty of my mindset because crimes like kidnap or stalking or serial killers are so rare and many don’t even hear about them aside from western news and movies or books, that sharing a location here usually brings or convinces friends to join one, as opposed to criminals.
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I think you’re lucky to live among people who are decent and caring.
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Oh, there is certainly crime. Robberies and thefts and killings and rapes but it’s not done through social media and following someone. mostly by being alone at a late hour in a place without people, or snatching bags and phones in crowded places.
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Over here and I think in a lot of places over the world we see so much abuse of information on social media. Take care my friend
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the abuse is certainly there but not in the ‘don’t share location’ sense.
take care too, Sadje. sorry for arguing a lot on this.
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No worries Jude. This was something that added to my knowledge. And I hope yours too.
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yap. i’m always very open to learning and understanding. don’t know if it’s the same thing exactly, but both.
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Then it’s all good.
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Excellent post Sadje ~ agree wholeheartedly ~ one never knows intentions of another (bad or good) thus best proceed with extreme caution.
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Very true June. Caution is indeed wise.
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I’m very careful. I share a lot about feelings, but not concrete info…
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That is very wise Paula. It’s in our hands, how much we want to expose ourselves.
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look for a book called SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM by Shoshana Zuboff…it’s a big heavy book, so you can also search for her on YouTube and look at her talks…she is an important writer and thinker 💙💙
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Thanks Jim I will. I just saw a documentary on Netflix about this too.
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She’s one of my heroes right now, but her talks are strong stuff, she pulls no punches 😎😎😎
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I’ll check her out.
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😎😎😎
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🙏🏼
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Remember who can see your social media accounts: current and potential employers, current and potential love interests, civil authorities, private investigators, hackers, extortionists, homeowners associations, banks, credit card companies, and that’s just the start. Anything you post is public knowledge. Best to get rid of all social media, or at least anything any of these audiences could consider incriminating.
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Very true John! It’s a minefield of information that can be used maliciously.
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Great advice, Sadje. I would recommend reducing the quality of any personal images shared too, so it limits what anyone could potentially use it for, collages are a great way to do this. KL ❤️
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Good idea KL! Thanks
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Very relevant for today’s times! We should definitely be more careful of our privacy online. I do feel the need to detox and take a break from social platforms, I actually took a break for an year from all platforms. It felt safe…
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Yes, if we break this addiction, we are better off.
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Good advice!
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Thanks Fandango
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Excellent advice. Something we’ve emphasized with our kids too.
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Thanks Laura. Very important for kids to understand.
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Also, those that include their location at the moment is very risky. If I do post or recommend a place, I do it a couple days or weeks after and never right at the moment. Better not to share your exact location
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That is very important. Be aware of those trying to exploit this information
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Indeed!
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👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
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Good advice!
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Thanks Patricia
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oh my Sadje something to think about truly! life has gotten so odd these days!xo
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Very true Cindy. Better be cautious.
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Good I’m not in there much. I should for sure but I’m like an open book-:(😝
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Haha! 🤣
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This is wise advice, Sadje. We must be careful. Excellent post.
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Many thanks my friend
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You’re welcome, Sadje. It’s always my pleasure.
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👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
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Good advice!
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Thanks Warren
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I write a snippet of my life…particularly personal parts of it. I’ve written less and less on some platforms
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Yes, we all are changing the way we share.
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I’m frankly astounded by people–especially young people–who publicize “anything and everything” of a personal nature. It’s taken me years to put my real face on a blog…mostly because I doubt many people are interested, haha!!
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Same here my friend. I’ve shared a couple of my pictures but my DP is a Bitmoji. Too much sharing is not prudent.
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Not prudent at all–the world is too full of crazies to risk much exposure.
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Exactly 👍🏼
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😊
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Yes, it’s more important to live than to tell the world that you’re living.
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Absolutely true. Thanks
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Very true Sadje, you need to be very cautious with what you distribute
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Exactly!
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Sound advice, Sadje. And why should we need to be telling personal details to strangers we may never meet, anyway?
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Very true! This current trend needs to be discouraged, especially among young people. Thanks
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I quite agree. It’s a risky move to be all of social media platforms gloating about one’s lifestyle or voicing one’s problems. There’re things that are better kept below one’s table.
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Exactly right! Specially nowadays.
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Yes. With hackers and infosavvy reputation crackers it is.
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👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
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I practically left checking and uploading anything on FB during lockdown because there were so many upsetting news everywhere. I am not insensitive but the depressing news coming from everywhere overwhelmed me. Now, I don’t feel compelled to write and post everything. It seems like I got cured of a mischievous spell. 😇
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Once we break the habit of constantly checking our social media accounts, we are cured. Thanks for sharing Ranjana. 🙏🏼
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Good advice, Sadje! There are personal things best not shared.
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Very true Eugenia. Thanks
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Most welcome.
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🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
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Perfectly said Sadje 👌
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Thanks 🙏🏼
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I agree. Its too easy to just post all of our pics up. I have posted a lot on facebook, but its the world we live in nowadays. X
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That’s true.
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