Blogging is a worldwide craze, an innovative way for people to share their own thoughts and ideas online – a personal diary or soapbox!

Containing audio clips, videos and images and often links to websites which the author has found to be of interest, blogging is increasingly popular and a great way to communicate, but there are hidden dangers of which you should be aware;

• Privacy – even if you use a pseudonym or keep your blog anonymous, there is no guarantee that your details will not be discovered. For example, blogs stored outside of the EU may not be covered by the Data Protection Act.
• Think about what you are writing and any implications that could result from your views. You may well write something that you will later on regret.
• Consider any legal implications, such as confidentiality clauses – these apply to blogs too.
• Remember that once you have posted a blog on the internet, this is permanent. Even if you subsequently delete a blog, it may well be saved on the internet in a search engine archive.
• Never post confidential information such as home address or bank details – these can be used to steal your identity.
• Take time to understand the features of the software you are using and how the ‘blogosphere’ works.

Additional tips on how to stay safe online whilst blogging are available at Get Safe Online

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