Reflections Post #2: Best Practices for Blogs

1. Make sure that the privacy or publicity of your blog is appropriate with the content you are posting.

Reason: 

I found it a little bit strange in some cases that some teacher bloggers post photos of their students, as well as their names, and had their blogs set to public. I understand if a parent is sharing photos of their own family and children, but someone else doing it? I don't necessarily agree with -- unless proper permission was given from the parents, which very well may have been the case with several of the blogs I viewed for Reflection #1. However, in some cases, having a public blog is great and doesn't put anyone at any risk.

2. Using an Anonymous or Disguised Name when discussing sensitive content or content that could result in negative consequences.

Reason: 

Many people use blogs to post about their unfiltered personal feelings towards certain topics. For example, a person who works within a company that has interesting coworkers, or doesn't agree with how the management is led, this person may post experiences they have within the work place that may be negative. By remaining anonymous and not disclosing the true name of their workplace or coworkers, this blogger is able to discuss their unfiltered thoughts without damaging the reputation of the company.

3. Moderating Comments on your Blog.

Reason:

Comments can be minefields for spammers, advertisers, vulgarity etc...It is important to moderate comments within a blog to make sure that those who are visiting your blog are having the experience as intended for them. Another reason, is that your blog post comments are not a place for free advertising. Having been involved with social media on a large scale within my job and different volunteer organizations, some people will utilize a social media venue that has a lot of followers to try and advertise for their own cause. Advertising is great, but there is a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it. Also, if you are wanting your comments to exclude vulgar comments or certain types of language, moderating comments is necessary.

Source: http://digitalethics.org/resources/best-practices-for-bloggers-dimensions-for-consideration/