Protecting your privacy is something you should do regardless of whether you’re a blogger or not. Having a private life is a happy life. Nobody knows your wins, nobody knows your losses. How blissful does that sound? As bloggers we really do put ourselves out there. Some of us share personal things, health struggles, financial issues and even the family problems we face. This really opens us up to criticism and judgement from people on the internet.
I have had faced some instances in life where people have tried to find out things about me when I don’t know them. Thankfully this has never happened to me since I have started blogging. But, thats mainly because I have set those privacy boundaries that not many people can cross. You may not realise it yet, but blogging really makes you visible to the world. I mean, I share my whole name for the world to see. I show my face on my blog and Instagram. People know who I am and know my name. Thankfully thats it though and thats about as much as I let people know.
IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE BOUNDARIES
I often hear people talking about boundaries, and have come to realise how important they really are. Boundaries in blogging is something you should put in place right when you first start your blog. What is it you’re going to allow people know about you? How far are you going to let people into your personal life? These are the important questions to ask yourself.
Boundaries don’t mean that you build a wall around yourself. It just means there are certain things you will and won’t allow. This is important to do, especially when it comes to your privacy. Not everyone needs to know everything about you, and this is something I am slowly learning as I get older. Keeping things private is a good thing.
IT’S SAFER FOR YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES
You have to remember that you are in charge of your own privacy settings online. It’s up to you to manage who you let in and who you don’t. Personally, I don’t and won’t ever share my family or friends on my blog or blog social media accounts. I don’t feel comfortable showing the faces of the people I love, and thats my personal choice. I know other bloggers who have family blogs and show their families daily. It’s about what you want to do.
There is no rule book to this, its about what you feels best for you. And for me, keeping my family and friends away from my blog is what I feel most comfortable doing. I have even gone to the extent to ask some of them to privatise their accounts if they can. I know how weird people can be, and people can have bad intentions. So I’d rather protect them and myself.
IT KEEPS PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR BUSINESS
When I first came back to blogging last year I made the rookie mistake of connecting my personal Instagram account to my blog. This invited quite a few people into my own private social space and I quickly realised I didn’t feel comfortable. I would really recommend this if you want to keep your private life private!
One of the best things I did was separate my social accounts. I created a blog Instagram account and now everything blog related goes there. As I have said already, it makes me feel more comfortable separating personal from blogging. It’s kind of like how people keep work and home life separate. Its the same thing!
How do you maintain your privacy as a blogger?
Do you think it’s important to keep your personal life and blog life separate?
I know there will be probably some conflicting views on this topic, so this is your reminder that I can only speak on my own personal views and experiences. Everyone is different and has different priorities in life, and thats okay. What you do is your choice! Whatever makes you comfortable is what’s best for you.
Olivia x
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Olivia, I think it does come down to who you are, including the experiences you have had. For me it is not such an issue, because I have been in the public realm for a long time (except for my blog). By that I mean I have worked in very public roles in my part of the world and not a stranger to the media, people following me home, making demands on my family and so on. I am extremely easy to find. Despite all this, and what I share, it’s only the tip of the iceberg in any case. So, yes there is certainly a case for being careful, prudent and mindful of privacy. I think you have also offered some very good advice on separating out social accounts from the professional side of things 😊
You’re right Sean. It totally depends who you are and what you feel comfortable doing. Writing from my perspective and that is, that I don’t wish for people to find out who my family are or see pictures. I guess I have been targeted before and don’t want to ever again. So from that experience alone thats probably why I’m alot more private than alot of other people!
Good blog Olivia which has made me stop and think. I guess I can identify with a lot of what you have written and there are certainly aspects of my private life I would chose to protect and keep private. However, as was mentioned above but another commentator, I am also engaging with my students who do know me outside of the blog. But then again, it’s something we need to do as educators too. It really is a judgement call. I’ve seen too many situations where staff have become too friendly with students and it has backfired and hurt them. It really is a fine line to walk, but we do need to protect ourselves – and I need to protect my students.
Anyway, I’m really interested to read the insights of everyone.
Thanks again, Olivia
I agree with you Brenda. There should always be things in place to safeguard yourself and when it comes to teaching young people. Thats why its important that you are careful with what you share online. Alot of companies and organisations can see it. I’ve known of people who have lost jobs from their online behaviour. Who would have thought that would be a thing?
It’s always a good idea to be on your guard!
Thanks for sharing your points!
Good point Olivia. It’s amazing how many people think that you can just do what you want online.
For real. I think they forget there are consequences and laws in place!
I share a fair bit about my life on my blog. So far, I haven’t had any problems but I understand why some people want to keep things more private. As you said, it’s a personal choice.
Yes it is. And I think its great no matter what you choose as long as you are comfortable!
Really good point Olivia. Thanks for sharing https://uncuaderno4cero.wordpress.com/
Thanks for reading!
Great reminder Olivia, that there are risks to posting too much personal information online. I do believe that most people are well-intentioned and won’t create any negative consequences with some personalized information out there. But there are a handful of people that will take advantage if you let them. Be careful of those. This is exactly why I created an alias for my blog and social media. Great post!
I can’t say I blame you for doing that in all honesty. Sometimes I wish I didn’t use my own name when creating this blog, but its kinda too late to change it now!
☻︎
🙂
This made me think, I never really thought about starting setting boundaries when first starting out, I always thought I’d wait till I gained a bigger audience! Thanks for the tips
Put those things in place now whilst its easier for you to do so!
This post came at the right time because I’ve been doing a serious digital Declutter. I realized on my blogging IG I don’t want to share my relationship or friendships anymore because people started following them! And I felt really uncomfortable about it. This is why I made an alias & try to keep certain things private in my writing. Even on my personal accounts I’ve been deleting old photos because people don’t need to know everything you’ve done in life. Keep the mystery alive haha
This is exactly why I keep it separate too. I know people probably didn’t do that with bad intentions but it doesn’t matter. As soon as people start snooping around other peoples accounts that you know thats when I have to draw the line too. I don’t blame you. Sometimes its good to be a little mysterious!
That’s a very valid point 👏👏
I am also not comfortable in sharing detail about me and my loved ones!!! 💟💟
Thanks so much for reading!
I definitely agree that it’s about what people are comfortable with. I actually use my personal life and share my stories and experiences on my blog and social. That is the foundation of my blog; me and my life. I knew before I started what I was setting myself up for, and decided that I would have to deal with what may come, but I love sharing my personal life as inspiration, encouragement and motivation for others. I do however, decide what I will and won’t share, but I’m a pretty transparent and open book overall. I just make sure my hubby is okay with what I put out, especially if it’s a sensitive subject or something we hadn’t discussed me sharing.
And thats the way to do it! You share what you feel comfortable sharing! thats all that matters in my eyes!
Most definitely!
When you need to define boundaries, an imaginary line or not, but particularly so on social media platforms, they will inevitably be crossed.
To retain, let alone maintain them, in a world when even the smallest of morsel’s given away, may lead to unwanted attention, it’s crucially important to know what you are doing. Our data helps create revenue for someone or another, hence the requirement to tick boxes to enable a tailored service but the systems in use today, which use “SMART” technologies, makes it all the more imperative to know what you are doing. Leaving a light on, offers a way in on our computers if you haven’t remembered to log out, it’s as simple as that. You wouldn’t leave your front door key in the lock, so why tempt albeit naively to venture that there’s absolutely no threat at all, when in reality and given the world that we live in, that danger lurks literally everywhere. I only engage with those who give their name, nicknames are out and dismissed out of hand, irrespective of what they have to say. I’ve ignored the quagmire of social media platforms specifically for this reason and I’ve managed to survive without them, that was the easy bit but I understand why others, ‘particularly so for those who are young’, would feel that they are necessary for keeping in touch, for that I use my phone. Privacy is more of an open sore, ask those caught up in the limelight of flashing cameras to promote their latest adventure and listen to them wailing when the intrusion becomes too much, as they seek their right to privacy. It’s a weird world, with some weird people, with even weirder perceptions than those uniquely our own. So you should build the boundaries high and never apologize for them or give your reasons for setting them at all, you shouldn’t have to explain the need to stay safe to be safe when taking care of your own.
You’re so right Martin with everything you’re saying. There shouldn’t need to be a conversation about why we choose to keep things private. It should just be accepted for what it is. Its our own personal choice isn’t it?
Very interesting a post. I agree with you for the most part regarding protecting privacy. I think overall what you highlight is that as transparent as some of us are we all have to or will somehow have a filter be it to protect us personally or even maintain the blog/brand which we share and express ourselves. One of the things I’ve stopped doing is sharing my personal life. Both on blog and Instagram i don’t feel as comfortable sharing my family or friends or even blogging about them. Much like yourself is to protect them, and i also feel they did not sign up for any of it so why should they have to be out there? It’s all subjective but i enjoyed this read
I signed up to be a blogger, they didn’t. And thats the main reason as to why I choose to keep home life and blog life separate. Its important that I protect those that didn’t sign up for it!
Absolutely! Couldn’t agree more
You make some very good points here! It’s definitely important to set boundaries so that we protect our lives, but also our feelings. People can be pushy, can make unwanted comments or get too invested in telling us what they think about how we live our lives. So choosing what we share so that it limits this, is key to having a healthy relationship with sharing online!
Julia x
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You’re so right Julia! Thanks for sharing that with us 👍🏻
I am glad you made your personal Instagram account private. Its a lot when strangers start snooping around your personal space.
That’s why I am quite cautious about what I share on my blog. It’s good to have filters.
I know each of us is different, it’s about what makes us comfortable.
A great read Olivia🤗 x
I am so glad I did that too! It made me feel so much better about things!
Thanks for reading love! x
I feel like I walk a fine line in this. I do write about my life as a mom and wife, which is pretty personal, but I am also very private, especially when it comes to my kids. They’re still young and they don’t deserve to be completely put out there. I also try to be considerate of others in my life and if I put their name out there, I check with them first and it’s never their full name.
I am so glad you talk about having personal and public accounts because that’s what I wanted, too, and you’re the one who gave me the idea and encouragement to actually do that.
I am so glad to hear that, and I’m sure its made you feel alot better about having that clear divide between personal and blogging too. I know it made me feel so much better too!
It really does make me feel better. It has also helped me figure out the look I want for my blog’s social media, which is an unexpected but welcome bonus.
Keeping your instas is a rlly good recommendation! I’ve always wondered if I should do that. And yeah if we don’t set our boundaries at the start we might overshare
I would always recommend doing that!
I share a little bit of information but I don’t go into deep detail, like exact location or people’s names because people can be evil.
You’re right, they can.
So true. You have to remember what you’re putting on social media. People have eagle eyes. Because Facebook is my personal social platform I don’t just accept any friends request. I am trying to be more open on Instagram, but remember the limits.
Yes for sure! Its the best way to be!
I absolutely agree with your views!! It’s so necessary in today’s world to keep few things private and not say everything on the net!! Nice post 😃😃👍
Thanks so much for reading! 🙂
I love that you are talking about this! I also would never post my family & friends on my blog/social media – it’s just too much and wouldn’t be fair to them. I have a separate Instagram and Facebook page for my blog – I did once mention my blog on my personal Instagram page and some of my friends followed but I would never be comfortable combining the two.
Caroline | https://envirolineblog.com/
Very nice post, Olivia. I think my take is pretty similar to yours. I’ll mention my wife by her first name occasionally, and I also talk about our beagles, chickens, and the temp cat, but for the most part, I’m pretty protective my family and friends. And I think a lot of that is subconscious. I just try to treat them (and others) the way I would want to be treated. For example, I would never want anyone in my family posting that picture of me in grade school with the curlers in my hair because one day I lost my mind and thought it would be a really good idea to get a perm to charm all the girls.
Thanks for this! I am a new blogger, and also a small business owner. I talk about very sensitive topics in my work, and while I occasionally share things about my own life, I really don’t talk much about my family because I like our privacy.
Hi, Olivia:
Very good points, which I am lucky that my blog is very low volume, as I’ve spent years being a bit too open about my struggles, and have been narrowing both the focus and the amount of personal sharing I do on my blog over the past year.
Stay safe,
-Shira
Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you, Olivia.
Stay safe,
-Shira
All my social media and my blog are under my pen name. I don’t have anything under my real name. I don’t post about anything i don’t want out there for everyone to see.It’s worked so far.. I have had people who actually know me find me on Facebook and ask if I’m on witness protection or something!
Hahaha thats funny!
Thanks for this thought-provoking post. It’s a problem that I’m grappling with right now, as my (new) blog allows people who know me professionally as an educational author to become acquainted with the quite different types of text I write for my own amusement. It’s not hard for them to leapfrog from there to Quora, where I haven’t held back with my opinions these last four years. A problem for me with setting firm privacy boundaries at the outset is that I really don’t know where I want to go with this. Firewalls between certain accounts certainly seem a good idea though, e.g. not linking to WordPress from FB and LinkedIn.
You’re right. I think that is a great idea! It can be hard to know sometimes where the boundaries should go. But I’m sure you’ll slowly figure it out!
Thanks for writing this article. I was about to write an article about myself and the problems i faced in my life, but i had that little thing that whether i should or i shouldnt write that article. After reading this i am more confident that i shouldnt write it. Good job Olivia 👍🏻
Thank you for this Olivia 💕 I am a beginner blogger and this came in my readers thread. Handy tips for someone new like me!
So glad it was helpful!
hy
Indeed I don’t understand why people are so willing to share with strangers tbh. Especially in the parenting space that I’m in, I’d never share details or pictures of my son. In fact on my blog (which I’ve more turned to an ‘online magazine’) about parenting. I don’t even have authors on or my name. This though it’s mainly because my main audience are women and I don’t think they’d take a blog/ magazine written by s man seriously!
That said, with some blogs, sharing a little about your life could help you connect with your audience.
Paul.
I agree with the points there. Being private can also protect one from unfair and harsh judgements.
You’re right!