Life : Apply Sparingly : Beware The Hashtag #

When I first started blogging (oh my gosh how totes 2007 of me) it was all about the content. I was building a little community for myself and they were lovely matey folk in a very small and very local circle doing the same. We all had our rose coloured glasses on and believed everyone online was there to be our friends.

My community was built of like-minded souls so I was never worried about tagging my images or posts “correctly”. I just did as I pleased and that was usually to get my latest “made by me” item up on the blog as quickly (and with the least amount of effort) as possible. I did however title my images on Flickr before I sent them to my blog.

I made a cute pair of “urchin slippers” and in the process had my eyes well and truly opened! Someone with a thing for feet made those slippers a favourite on Flickr and it made me feel sick. I checked out the stream and instantly blocked said favouriter. I vowed and declared never to share another picture of feet on the internet again. You may or may not know that it’s blogger code of practice to “photograph feet regularly” so this was a BIG moment for me. I confess I’ve fallen off the wagon a couple of times but you’ll be hard pressed to find many photos of feet I’ve taken.

OK, so I guess it’s a bit of an over reaction about  a dude with a love of feet but ya know I can’t look at pictures of feet anymore (though they might be beautiful images) without feeling more than a little queasy.

Do you know what? It’s not one bit about the feet…it’s about knowing that there are people online who search that stuff. Yep – they use your tags on Flickr and Instagram to find images of whatever it is that floats their boats. Maybe it’s feet or saucepans or coffee or something else entirely. Of course, 9 times out of 10 it’s all very innocent and you could make yourself a new internet mate via your excellent use of the tag.

BUT, I’m saying think about it before you # your life. Do you really want people searching #adolescent #girl #blonde #carlton #melbourne #16? I’m thinking NO! I’m also thinking that you don’t want to be geotagging stuff that makes you (and your loved ones) super easy to locate. It might have been a bit of fun to make up geotags for every room in your house at the time but really…was it wise? Probably not.

In my opinion geotagging should be used sparingly (if at all). Think before you tag folks – it’s just too much information.

Do you geotag?  All the time?  Some of the time?  Do you think I’m too much of a Safety Sam?

Kirsty is a wife, a mother and; a friend. She lives in Melbourne with her family.

Kirsty makes stuff & takes photos. You can find her at Kootoyoo