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Be Careful About What You Post Online for the Whole World to See

By
Home Builder with Safe and Sound Electric LLC E1-125403

In this world where we constantly update our social media profiles, we need to think about what we post and where that information will end up.  Once we upload a photo the entire world has access to it. It could easily be copied, and posted on tons of other websites we have never been to and never even heard of.

 

In 2006, I was doing a huge amount of cycling and took a picture of my really bad sock tan.  The photo cracked me up and I posted it to flickr.com . Instantly, people began commenting on it. One person said, “Nice socks.. Oh wait.. Nevermind.” Another person was impressed with my “Glow in the dark feet.”

 

I thought all the comments were quite funny, and left the photo on Flickr for a while and kind of forgot about it.  Then, four or so years later, I heard about the website called Pale is the New Tan.  Naturally, I had to check it out. I was laughing at all the photos of people with really bad suntans.  There were people who had missed a spot with suntan lotion, and people who overdid it at the tanning booth.  It was quite funny, until I recognized one photo because it was the same photo of my own two feet. Here it is (the fifth from the bottom of the page).

 

I am quite entertained by this photo. (Don’t worry. My tan is not that bad anymore.)  But, I mention this as a warning for others to be care about what they post online.

 

 

 

 

Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

John -  that is a great post to remind all of us about social media.  I can't believe some to the posts people put on Facebook.  Many should be thinking twice.

And Congratulations on being Featured, John.  You are on a roll.

Jan 27, 2014 08:12 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

I'm amazed at what people post all over the internet without thinking about the ramifications of what's out there forever!

Jan 27, 2014 08:26 PM
John F Muscarella
RIVER FARM PROPERTIES, LLC - Venice, FL
Broker/Owner, Venice, FL, Florida's Suncoast

Good point.  I think many online just "borrow" photos that interest them and repost when appropriate.  Never mind copywrite issues etc.  I guess it cound have been worse.

Jan 27, 2014 08:32 PM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

This is one of the good reasons to get a pedicure because if your feet go viral then you want to look good. Good analogy too about what is online always stays online and you never know how it can be used or construed.

Jan 27, 2014 09:20 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

John, four years later and the photo is still floating around the Internet. Good analogy and a very valid point.

Jan 27, 2014 09:38 PM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Your media streams... just the picture platforms part of the show and tell, transparency. Over 2000 Flickr channel images and you are right, some go viral. Not just limited to videos like Charlie, he bit my finger. Or our local star approaching 11 million hits "Buttermilk Plays With Her Friends." (It's G rated, don't worry.)

Jan 27, 2014 09:55 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Anything goes now a days but without me...I remain selective and so should we all

Jan 27, 2014 10:05 PM
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

John,

You're very right about being careful with what you post.  On the plus side I actually LOL'd at your feet picture.  

Jan 27, 2014 11:09 PM
Molly Heyen
RE/MAX Premier Properties - Chicago, IL
Chicago City Estates

Great subject! A community group with which I was involved used my picture of the local elementary school for an illustration in thier newsletter. I asked the woman who was in charge of that article where she found the photo and she said that she just did a Google image search. She didn't know or care where it came from. She thought it was funny after I told her that it was my photo. For that purpose I'm perfectly fine with her using it, but I have been adding watermarks to the images I post online since then.

Jan 27, 2014 11:19 PM
Elva Branson-Lee
Best Atlanta - Atlanta, GA
Marketing Specialist, Atlanta Short Sale Pr

Good point, John...and great feet! Your feet may become an internet celebrity, it seems.

Jan 27, 2014 11:43 PM
Peter Pfann @ eXp Realty Pfanntastic Properties in Victoria, Since 1986.
eXp Realty, Victoria BC www.pfanntastic.com - Victoria, BC
Talk To or Text Peter 250-213-9490

Hi John,

That is almost like ..... real estate.... "anything you do or say can and most likely will be used against you"..... it's a brutal world out there, better wear good boots

Jan 28, 2014 12:07 AM
Jill Saddler
Draper, UT
Draper Utah Real Estate Professional - 25 years+!

Ahahah - so true!! That's a pretty funny story - and glad to hear you've evened your tan out!

Jan 28, 2014 12:07 AM
Randy Shamburger
Movement Mortgage - Greenville, SC
FHA, VA, USDA and Conventional Mortgage Expert

So true, interesting story, thanks for sharing.

Have a Big day,

Randy

Jan 28, 2014 12:28 AM
Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

John, it's a great photo and I can see why someone would want to steal it. I think everyone should think twice, at least, about what they post online. Once it's out there, it's out there.

Jan 28, 2014 03:18 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

John, I am seeing agents using my photos for commercial use. I'm getting fed up with it and I'm looking into a remedy which might include having my attorney send letters.

Jan 28, 2014 05:24 AM
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

Yup.  It happens all the time!  Once it's out there, it's out there.  Funny picture though.  

Jan 28, 2014 05:30 AM
Donna Bacher
PureRealty Brokerage - Hamilton, ON
Broker

Thanks John- it is extremely unnerving to think that when you share- you're actually giving it away for anyone to use however they see fit!

Jan 28, 2014 03:04 PM
Ralph Gorgoglione
Metro Life Homes - Palm Springs, CA
California and Hawaii Real Estate (310) 497-9407

It’s tru that whatever we post on a website, it’s up for grabs.  It’s best to be careful about what we post, as you said.

Jan 29, 2014 10:25 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

That's a great picture!  How funny you find it 4 yrs. later, that must have been so weird.  I found a picture of mine on pinterest once and tracked it back to a website.  Many people had already shared it.  Nothing I could do....but this other person was taking credit for it.

Feb 03, 2014 08:55 AM
Tom Braatz Waukesha County Real Estate 262-377-1459
Coldwell Banker - Oconomowoc, WI
Waukesha County Realtor Real Estate agent. SOLD!

John Anello

 I wish more people would read this before they go to their computer. So absolutely true

Oct 25, 2014 05:02 AM