Recently, a good friend of mine asked for my advice on online privacy.  He was considering promoting a cause to raise awareness and funding for research relating to a loved one’s illness.  I recommended he ask himself some of these questions that go into my thought process:

1. Do I care if everyone knows?

(The clean livin’ factor)

For most social media updates, like on Facebook or Twitter, ask yourself if you really want all your friends, and their friends seeing your moderately inappropriate update or risque photo.  …and ask yourself who will they tell that is not in your “controlled” social network.  If your concerned at all about a post, don’t post it.  It will be public, permanent, and pervasive.

2. Could the information be used negatively against me or anyone I have a relationship with?

(the crazy uncle factor)

Listen up everyone. You might be alright with posting “that picture” from Vegas, but your friends in the shot might not be, so don’t post it. …and if you do, don’t tag them in it without their permission. And while I’m on my soapbox, Facebook should facilitate authorization of identity-object association, but probably never will.

You can see this issue with non-digital communications as well. I always cringe a bit when I see those car stickers that shows a child’s name overlaid on their favorite sport. That parent has just identified their child by name, and told everyone their favorite activity and their school. Do they also have stickers you can buy to indicate that they also like Snickers and puppies?

3. Is the information available already to people who really care?

(the big brother factor)

I know we all like to ignore it, but items like the value of your house, pictures of your house, pictures of you, your credit score and even seemingly private information like your travel patterns, are available for free or for fee. (cell phone providers sell anonymous data about users, but this data is easily “re-identified” by looking at the data: where are most calls made from? My house and my work, which are public)

So, if others are sharing or selling your information, why wouldn’t you?

4. What’s the % chance that anyone will find the data, care about the data, and use the data for negative reasons?

(the needle in the haystack factor)

Of all the people in all the world why you? Are you a target (because you don’t pay your bills, or are a crazy right-wing evangelist)? If so, then you know it, and you should behave in a manner that keeps you “under the radar.” If not, then you’re a needle; the risk is low (but still there).

5. Does releasing this information make it easier for anyone to steal my identity?

(the FUD factor)

… IMO, the answer is a qualified no. Most identity theft occurs from some other avenue than direct information sharing, and you are more likely to be exposed by a corporation that has information about you, or the waiter at your local pizza place than you are with your actions.

6. Do the benefits of making the information public outweigh the risk?

(The real question)

This is something that you will have to decide for yourself.

Reflecting back to the original question from my friend, will his loved one benefit from a public indication that they are sick? Will the benefits of increased funding of research, sympathy and support from family and friends, and their positive impact on the community of others afflicted with the disease outweigh the risk?

Here a couple of great examples of the people who share their story and provide tremendous benefits (even in the face of some controversy) to their audience.

Don Bowen

http://wizidm.wordpress.com/

Heather Armstrong

http://www.dooce.com