Sometimes as a millennial, it can feel like as if we live in an online bubble. A bubble where anyone can update themselves on our location, and what we are doing at any time. A bubble where we are displayed targeted adverts, even before we have identified we want such a product. Yes, the millennial way of life does mean privacy can feel like a luxury. Of course, it is essential to remember that there are things we can do to preserve our privacy online. In fact, you can find out about the most simple ones below.
Control your social media settings
The first simple way that you can help to preserve your privacy online is to make sure you are in control of your social media settings. Of course, each separate platform works slightly differently, just to complicate things further. However, for the purpose of this post, let's use Facebook. A platform that has previously been criticized for its lack of privacy as our example.
One way to make sure your privacy is guarded against online is not to include a phone number of your Facebook profile. Especially if you have it open for everyone and everyone to view. Additionally, be sure to regularly update your settings concerning who can see your profile an who can add you as well. If you want to make sure some vague acquaintance can't track you down that is.
Finally, do remember that you can decide who can access your friends and who can see every post you make as well. Something that can help you keep your personal and private life separate and that can even help you get out of problems between different social groups as well.
Use a VPN
Next, another straightforward strategy you can use to protect your privacy online is to use a VPN or virtual private network. In fact, by using something like this, you can stop all the tracking of your online activity. Something that can help to prevent you from being bombarded with any of those annoying targeted ads.
Of course, not all advertised VPNs are as private as they state. In fact, you can read more about making the best choice for privacy in posts like this nordvpn review online. The trick being to pick one that is located in a country like Panama. Where the tracking and storage laws are much different from the rest of the world. Something that can make all the difference to how private you can stay online.
Separate business and personal
Next, when it comes to privacy online, running your own business can be a real problem. This is because your company will be associated with your name, and if you are running it from home, your address as well. Something that means your home address will not be kept private at all.
Happily, there are some relatively simple ways of getting around this. One is to set up an anonymous LLC or limited liability company. Something that basically requires you to set up a trust and then cite that as the owner of your company. Although doing so without legal help is not advised as there are only certain places in the world where this is allowed, such as Panama, US, and Liechtenstein.
Additionally, to further protect your privacy, you may wish to prevent your home address coming up when people search for your business. One way of doing this is to remove any Google Maps business listings associated with your address. Something that you will need a Google account to do.
In fact, even if someone else has a verified claim on the business running from your address, Google will email and ask them to surrender it. Then if they don't, Google has the power to move it across to you, at which point you can remove it.
Of course, it is also important to remember that removing your business from Google Maps may not be the best thing for your Business's SEO. In fact, with the recent local SEO changes, you could cause issues for the visibility of your business.
Blog carefully
Lastly, many millennials, as well as other generations, write online blogs now. Places where they talk about anything from issues and products that interest them to how they spend their free time.
Before sharing your story online, think twice.
Of course, because so many blogs have a personal focus, if privacy is a concern, it is essential to be mindful of what you write. In fact, it is always worth thinking twice before you share any personal information or experiences online. The reason being that you aren't just telling your loyal band of readers, but effectively the entire world as well. Something that is just about as far from privacy as it's possible to get.
