Social Media ~ Personal Information EVERYWHERE!

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2023: Week 6 (SOCIAL MEDIA)

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines social media as

"forms of electronic communication (such as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (such as videos)" 1

I'm old enough to remember when you didn't use your own name for email addresses. It was important to protect your private information on the internet.

When our children started school we were asked to sign the form giving permission for their name and photo to be posted. We recorded yes, but .. either their photo or their name - not both together. 

In the years since the expectation of privacy online has changed. 

When I find a new DNA match on Ancestry or 23&Me that I can't figure out how we are related I immediately look to Facebook to see what information I can find. 

It surprises me how much private information folks have publicly available on their Facebook feeds. 

These are people I am not friends with so shouldn't be able to see too much, but I often have no problems adding details such as birthdates (or at least years) along with the names of partners, children, siblings, or extended family members. 

Sometimes it's the clickable relatives that provide the details. 

Not everyone I see has a page or details available, but there are a shocking number of folks that have way too much information available.

My purposes are simple. I want to fill in the blanks on our Bramble Bush. 

BUT - do I really need to add the mother-in-law of the husband of my 4th cousin 8X removed?

Maybe the folks I have added to our Bramble Bush don't really want to be there, and I have given them no choice.

Instead of just harvesting their information I could have messaged seeking permission, but...

The first time I discovered how much information was available I immediately went to our Facebook accounts to see how much information was available to strangers & fixed what needed fixing. 

Others searching for me on Facebook will have to work for the information they seek. They will have to inbox me.

I can be found on other social media sites that have direct messaging if they want current information, but historical information is available for them to find all over the internet with a simple web search.

Personal Information is everywhere!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Footnotes:

1   Social Media definition. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved January 19th 2023 from 
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20media

Photos:

Don't get in a car with a stranger. Boldomatic.  Retrieved January 19th 2023 from https://boldomatic.com/p/3-buXw/1998-don-t-get-in-car-with-strangers-2008-don-t-meet-people-from-the-internet-al

Facebook profile public. SomeeCards. Quotes Gram. Retrieved January 19th 2023 from https://quotesgram.com/facebook-stalker-quotes/

Not a stalker. Rotten eCards. Quotes Gram. Retrieved January 19th 2023 from https://quotesgram.com/facebook-stalker-quotes/

Personal

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

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