When a warning-fueled blog post about a dramatic news clip covering online stalking started circulating through social media, I wanted to know what made this so interesting since most of us know that posting online makes us visible to the world (that’s the point right?)…
After watching the clip I learned that even people who are not choosing to freely share their locations are still subject to high-level internet stalking due to geo-tracking through mobile phones. This technology, like the GPS in your car, embeds your location when your upload an image to a social sharing site. Free browser add-ons allow ANYONE to turn data from your pictures into a map and start stalking you.
Put simply, online mapping is so advanced that people interested in stalking you can use it to find and follow you without ever leaving their home. Stalking with geo-tracking is scary and it’s a real threat – so please turn geo-tracking OFF your smartphone’s camera.
This link offers easy directions for most phones (settings for newer models are close if not the same). Some phones offer app-specific location services as well. http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/11712/how-to-disable-geotagging-on-your-smartphones-camera-android-iphone-blackberry/
We’re all doing our best to build our brands and gain followers, but let’s make sure they are the right kind of followers.
Watch the news clip referenced above here.
Rachel Creveling has 15 years in the industry and is the Owner of Belle Strategies Marketing Agency. As a Digital Marketing Consultant, she helps clients strategically plan and build campaigns based on ROI. Her highly custom consulting method has earned clients including the Hilton Head Wine & Food Festival, Four Seasons Resort and Residences, South Beach Seafood Festival and many others. Rachel’s expertise helps companies push past revenue goals by leveraging their data and identifying areas for efficiency and growth.