How much personal info to put online?

[RogueDadMD]

I have a question out there not only for the successful bloggers (such as WCI or Physician on Fire) but those of you who frequently use social media or have an extensive online presence in some form.

How much do you worry about putting personal information online, and how much do you worry about that in terms of it extending to your family?

I bring this up because of my own fledgling blog, which may start generating some income soon.  That brings the opportunity to do things such as have my wife be co-owner/employed by the LLC, but also my kids.  I mentioned the idea of using my kid's photos in the blog so they could be paid as "models," and that brought up some concerns about putting there faces (not necessarily names but potentially that as well) into a public domain where people who don't know us would learn a lot about my family.

Clearly w/the blog (and to a much lesser extent this forum) I've already shared personal details (no pictures that show faces though), however my blog isn't anonymous (if you read the right article it you can figure out who I am very easily).  Given that it's fairly easy to obtain individuals home addresses online, that raised a concern in my household that it would make it easy for people who don't particularly like me or something I write to easily find me and perhaps cause problems for myself or my wife/kids.

Now clearly WCI is putting plenty of this info online so to some extent this is asked and answered for him, but I am curious if WCI or others who are already doing this take any particular safeguards (not sure what that would be) to protect some aspects of your personal life.  For those that avoid sharing that type of info online, is it out of a sense of caution?

I'm curious about everyone's thoughts...

[Miss Bonnie MD]

I don't have my full name on my website - but my first name is there obviously. I state my specialty etc...google that string and you'll find me easily .

I do need to form an LLC, on my to do list...

[Kamban]

Rogue Dad, M.D. wrote:

but I am curious if WCI or others who are already doing this take any particular safeguards (not sure what that would be) to protect some aspects of your personal life. For those that avoid sharing that type of info online, is it out of a sense of caution?

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Miss Bonnie MD wrote:

I don’t have my full name on my website – but my first name is there obviously. I state my specialty etc…google that string and you’ll find me easily .

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The issue is that for a blog to be successful you need to make it a bit personal to connect with the readers and that means sharing some details. Because of this, a simple Google search with the right words can bring the person out in the open in a matter of seconds. The more one tries to hide, the less successful the blog will be. That is the trade off.

Based on the extensive posting I have done here, almost anyone can use the keywords and detect who I am am. But if I started a blog it will be much quicker, and to a wider audience. Luckily I am well into FI and feel that relative anonymity is worth it for me and my family.

[EJ at Dads Dollars and Debts]

I think some info is fine. Some people put there net worth out. Others put asset allocations as percentages. Others put their full family names and others stay anonymous. What ever is comfortable for you.

[The White Coat Investor]

I spent a long time thinking about this and in the end decided the upsides outweighed the downsides to me. It also helps when you realize that very little of your life is as private as you think.

It also helps you remember to not do/say things online you wouldn't do in real life.

It's not tough to figure out where a doctor lives and works. If someone wanted to take you out, having an anonymous blog wouldn't help. I've got much bigger risks in my life than someone on the internet figuring out who I am.

But if I wasn't making a good deal of money from all this sharing, I probably wouldn't. No upside.

[Hatton]

If I was still doing OB I would not post nearly as much about my finances and general location. OB is very litigious and the less stuff that can be discovered about you the better.  Another concern I have is not wanting patients to know about my financial life.  I do have Facebook friends who are patients but I am careful what I post.  I post lots of lake photos and dog photos.

[jfoxcpacfp]

Look no further than Facebook. You'll have a lot more exposure there than on your blog and most people seem not to give it a second thought. I'm not saying I agree with doing so, just that privacy today is more afterthought than pursuit.

For some strange reason, I had a sneaking suspicion that you and your family didn't dress up in 18th century finery and gavotte and revel throughout the day. Now I know that picture was just a trick to lead your readers astray. One more piece of the puzzle solved heh heh heh.

[Kamban]

hatton1 wrote:

Another concern I have is not wanting patients to know about my financial life. I do have Facebook friends who are patients but I am careful what I post. I post lots of lake photos and dog photos.

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When Facebook was hot in its early days and everyone wanted to join, connect and have hundreds of likes and connections I had many patients and not so close people ask me for my Facebook profile. I could have lied but luckily I had not joined Facebook and hence could reply to them with a straight face that I am not on Facebook. As more time went on and I saw how people spent all their time on Facebook, I felt that I already spend enough time online and did not want to add to it by joining Facebook. I am a social media Luddite.

As regards to privacy I feel that anyone with a mindset and simple resources can find out where you are and what you do. The government already knows enough since I have had to go through background checks for Global Entry Card and similar checks in the past. This site usually attracts a higher social class of people with higher net worth or people on the way to high net worth. I am not concerned about such people finding my identity. I am more concerned about the Reddit type posters finding my true identity.

[Miss Bonnie MD]

Speaking of posting NW - I have posted my personal NW but I am hesitant to post our combined NW - due to an ex wife + child support. But am ok posting my personal NW - as Kamban says, readers need some info.

[Craigy]

Miss Bonnie MD wrote:

Speaking of posting NW – I have posted my personal NW but I am hesitant to post our combined NW – due to an ex wife + child support. But am ok posting my personal NW – as Kamban says, readers need some info.

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This is probably the biggest legitimate fear posted.

An ex-wife who is still getting child support will take you to court in a heartbeat if she/he thinks there is more money to be had.  And possibly even if there is no child support, alimony or spousal support still being paid, for that matter.

Also, an ex-wife is very likely to internet-stalk you and your family in general (at the very least, exponentially more likely than any other rando on the web).

[CM]

Kamban wrote:

hatton1 wrote:

Another concern I have is not wanting patients to know about my financial life. I do have Facebook friends who are patients but I am careful what I post. I post lots of lake photos and dog photos.

Click to expand…

When Facebook was hot in its early days and everyone wanted to join, connect and have hundreds of likes and connections I had many patients and not so close people ask me for my Facebook profile. I could have lied but luckily I had not joined Facebook and hence could reply to them with a straight face that I am not on Facebook. As more time went on and I saw how people spent all their time on Facebook, I felt that I already spend enough time online and did not want to add to it by joining Facebook. I am a social media Luddite.

As regards to privacy I feel that anyone with a mindset and simple resources can find out where you are and what you do. The government already knows enough since I have had to go through background checks for Global Entry Card and similar checks in the past. This site usually attracts a higher social class of people with higher net worth or people on the way to high net worth. I am not concerned about such people finding my identity. I am more concerned about the Reddit type posters finding my true identity.

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[Antares]

Anyone can find out a lot about you on the internet, but my attitude is why make it easy for them? On the other hand, as WCI indicates, there's no upside for me. Googling my name yields minimal results: a few published papers, a tennis tournament I did well in, those health provider websites. I'm not on Facebook. I plan to keep it that way. I love my privacy, even if it's partial and illusory.

[Miss Bonnie MD]

Craigy wrote:

Miss Bonnie MD wrote:

Speaking of posting NW – I have posted my personal NW but I am hesitant to post our combined NW – due to an ex wife + child support. But am ok posting my personal NW – as Kamban says, readers need some info.

Click to expand…

This is probably the biggest legitimate fear posted.

An ex-wife who is still getting child support will take you to court in a heartbeat if she/he thinks there is more money to be had.  And possibly even if there is no child support, alimony or spousal support still being paid, for that matter.

Also, an ex-wife is very likely to internet-stalk you and your family in general (at the very least, exponentially more likely than any other rando on the web).

Click to expand...

Well, we are not legally married for this and other reasons . I am honestly not too worried about ex trying to get money but why chance it?

[q-school]

Is there any other reason from legal perspectives to be concerned about posting net worth? Like kid falls at your house and get sued for more than umbrella? If you own real estate properties (not necessarily rentals which are llc)? Future business partnerships?

Just curious. Thanks.
I'm too old for this board and feel income and net worth are very personal issues. I recognize the social mores are changing around me.

[Donnie]

Regarding the social faux pas of disclosing personal income, I think this is a huge scam which is spread by employers. People can easily find out generally what the income level is for different occupations. Keeping personal income secret from your coworkers creates an information asymmetry between employers and employees, which employers can use to keep wages low. For example, if everyone knows your profession makes $200k on average, they aren't really going to draw a distinction between $180k and $220k. On the other hand if you are making $180k and you know your co-worker is making $220k for doing the exact same job, you are going to you are going to be pretty irritated, and you are going to negotiate very strongly for a raise.