One of the subjects that has comes up now and then is how much to reveal when using a website like GenealogySocial. Privacy tips to navigate using any social networking site whether it is GenealogySocial, Facebook, X, BlueSky, LinkedIn, or others.
Remember is that by participating in a social network site, people can find you. This allows networking with other genealogists, find cousins, and learn more about your family history research. The negative aspect to being visible on the Internet is - people can find you. Based on your privacy settings, people do have access to that information outside of the social network. Google and other search engines “crawl” the internet to find information they then index and make available. This is great in that it allows others to find you, but if you do not want to be found for whatever reason, this can seem like an infringement of privacy.
Tips for social network sites whether posting articles, information, or comments:
- Don’t reveal too much about yourself. Just because a social network site asks for information about where you live, what high school you went to, etc…doesn’t mean you have to provide it. What may not seem like a big deal may give hints to your passwords or other privacy issues.
- Decide what you are comfortable with and then add privacy settings to control who can see your information. The privacy settings for GenealogySocial are available under the “Settings” link of your member page. You can choose to either show or not show your birthdate and gender. By clicking on “Privacy” from your “Settings” page you can also determine who sees information from your member page and your postings. We suggest hiding your birthdate at a minimum anywhere onine on any website or social media.
- Make a rule about who you will "friend." As genealogists, we often have people “friend” us because of our common passion, genealogy. In the case of those who present to genealogy societies, we may have people who have heard us speak, ask to be our social media friend. I tell those in my audience to go ahead and friend me but it is also a good idea to send a message with that friend request stating how you know the person. That way Ithey know you and are not worried about just a random person wanting to add one more “friend." Let’s face it, in some cases it may not seem like a big deal to friend someone but you are potentially giving them access to a lot of your personal information, thoughts, and the thoughts and photos of family and friends.
- Be careful about what you write. Be careful what you write on your friend's wall or as comments to their postings. Remember, they will not be the only people who see it. Their friends will also see it
- Use the Private Message function to send private messages to other members. There are many ways to communicate with other members on GenealogySocial. You can post a comment to their wall, meet them for a private chat in the chat room or send a private message via the private message link on their member page. This option is the best for sending information that you don’t want made public. Never include your address and phone number anywhere it could be publicly viewed. Also, sometimes members give personal information out in a GenealogySocial Chat Room or Group. You never know who may be there on social media. If you are providing your phone number, email, or street address do it through the private chat function. You can start a private chat with someone who is in the chat room by clicking on their picture under the Members Online section of the Chat Room
- You can choose any image as your profile picture, so if you are uncomfortable with your current picture being on the Internet, then choose a graphic or something more obscure.
- Do not post information about other members on GenealogySocial or outside of GenealogySocial without their permission. If you help someone with their genealogy and want to write about it on your blog, ask permission first. That fits ethically, morally, and respects any copyright law.
- Remember this is your public face. This is a way people can find you. If they Google your name, your GenealogySocial member page may be part of the results for your name. A wonderful help when looking for genealogists and connections. But protect your details from public view with your profile settings.
(IIGS Edited for updates 7-31-2025)
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