How To Stay Safe As Someone Who Is Internet Famous

A lot of people dream about becoming famous as it can drastically improve their lives. But while it can be great, there are some downsides that you need to prepare for. Since your newfound fame is usually accompanied by wealth, it can put a huge target on your back. Malicious actors out in the world will try to abuse your name, image, or outright hurt you for their own gains. Because of this, it’s essential to protect yourself from potential attacks and exploitations. Here are some ways that you can stay safe as someone who is internet famous.

Mind What You Post

It’s sad to believe, and admit, that the very avenue that brought you fame could also be the method of your downfall. As great as the internet is, there’s a reason why our parents always warned us about using it. With how transparent and viral our social media posts are, it can offer insight into our daily lives that not everyone should be privy to.

When you become famous, wanting to share your journey, and even just a regular day, is natural. You’ve come to view your followers as an extension of your family and you’re eager to give them updates about your life. There are good intentions behind this, but you need to be mindful about what you post and how much information you’re giving people online.

Whenever you’re sharing images, ensure that personal information, or anything that could be used to help identify you, isn’t in the shot. This includes distinguishing landmarks near your home, bank cards, and physical/mailing addresses. The last thing you want to do is unknowingly give someone the opportunity to exploit or hurt you.

 

You will have to rethink content strategy to make sure that your safety is paramount. No matter what you do, once you’re protecting yourself, your followers will understand.

Account Security

As someone who is internet famous, there are a lot of people who will be familiar with your social media accounts.

They’ll know the platforms you are on and the handles you use. Security experts often lament that celebrities underestimate the importance of VIP personal security despite knowing how vulnerable they are either at home or out in public. While handles don’t easily translate to login information, they can still give people hints if they have other pieces of information to work with.

While removing PII (Personal Identifiable Information) from your handles may be difficult since you may have built your brand around them, there are other steps you can take to secure your account.

The first step is to ensure that you’re using a strong password for your account. It should be complex enough that no one can easily guess but still memorable so that you don’t forget. Additionally, do your best to use different passwords for different accounts. This helps to protect you if one account gets hacked because the hacker won’t be able to use the same password for your other account. If it gets too complicated, try using a password manager.

 

Next is to add another layer of security by using security questions, two-step verification, and two-factor authentication. Your security questions, along with the answers to them, shouldn’t be information that anyone can google. No birthdays, pet names, or public milestones. Setting up two-step verification means that you will be asked for a special code that’s sent to your phone number or email whenever you try to log in. Two-factor authentication is a beefier version of that since it’s tied to a code generator that changes every 15 – 30 seconds and you’re usually able to access it through a special app.

 

Reinforcing your account security will help protect you and your followers from scams, ransoms, and theft.

Hire Security Services

If your fame is newfound, you might assume that you can get around without much worry, but that’s no longer the case. Depending on your level of notoriety or fame, people in places other than your hometown, or even your country, will be aware of your existence and, if you allow them that, your movements and activities as well, without you being the slightest bit aware of theirs. It’s best to go overboard on the safe side so as to avoid the unexpected vileness of human beings.

 

This could depend on your wealth, but hiring security personnel should be a consideration as well if you’re able to afford it and think you might need it. These individuals are trained to keep you safe under any circumstance; some even specialize in high-profile personalities. Security experts often lament that celebrities underestimate the importance of Bodyguard Services despite knowing how vulnerable they are either at home or out in public. Going to public events, or even the basic act of running an errand can expose one to a world of trouble if they’re not one step ahead.

 

You might be able to get away with taking an evening stroll, depending on your popularity, but outings can usually be a bit more troublesome, especially if you’re often actively sharing media on social apps. You could face wild paparazzi, obsessive fans, or dangerous threats the moment you step out your door. Consult with a reputable agency to determine the level of protection you may need at home or while you’re traveling.

Don’t Get Flashy

It’s insanely easy to get lulled into extravagance the moment you become famous. The added financial gains will make you want to indulge in wild parties and buy expensive things. This will instantly draw attention to you and motivate bad actors to take advantage of any opportunity they get. 

 

We’re not saying you shouldn’t enjoy your gains. Instead, we’re encouraging you to do so wisely. Smart spending and event planning not only keeps you safe but also keep you afloat financially. If you go around spending willy nilly, you’ll soon lose the wealth you’ve accumulated.

 

If you don’t have bodyguards when you go out, and even when you do, it’s best to conduct yourself conservatively. Especially if you’re going somewhere mundane or low-profile. The people in that environment shouldn’t be aware of how much you are worth just by looking at you. If you’re wearing expensive jewelry or driving a fancy car, thieves don’t need to know that you’re famous for them to rob you.

 

Sometimes you will have to act as if you’re a regular joe like everyone else. Blending in will protect you from anyone who could have bad intentions. 

Don’t Forget The Legalities

This is probably the one thing that most people don’t think about; the legal stuff. After you’ve built your brand online, it will become synonymous with you as a person. Whoever sees your brand will instantly see you. This means that if someone impersonates or steals your brand they’re impersonating and stealing you/your identity.

 

That can open you to defamation, fraud, and sabotage. To protect yourself from this, you’ll need to take several legal steps that protect you and your brand. The first thing to do, if your brand is big enough, protects your brand and subsequent properties/works. This includes getting trademarks, patents, and copyrights. Having these in place puts the law on your side in case a copycat or competitor decides to infringe on your intellectual property. If you’re ever to, unfortunately, be a victim of fraud or theft, these will protect you.

 

In addition to protecting your intellectual property, you also need to protect yourself. Operating your business or brand without the proper organizational structure can leave you open to certain misfortunes. It’s recommended to incorporate your brand so that you can legally distinguish and protect yourself from your business. This safeguards your personal assets from any lawsuits that may come your way.

Be Socially Wary

You may have learned this lesson long ago, “not everybody is your friend”. If you haven’t, then let’s save you the trouble of learning it the hard way.

Becoming famous has a lot of perks and it can expose you to many people. If your rise to fame was sudden, then it can get overwhelming. If you’re already used to it then you probably have a good idea of what to expect and how to conduct yourself. As you come to know more people, some of them will try to work their way into your inner circle. Not all of them are bad, but you still have to be pretty cautious.

Look out for people who are pretending to be long-lost relatives, old friends that you’ve forgotten, and people in dire situations. It can be hard to sift the good from the bad but pay attention to their behavior and how they interact with you. You don’t need to be friends with everyone and when it comes to fans you will need to set boundaries. Being mindful of this will spare you from any exploitations.

Safety is one of the utmost concerns for everyone. We need to protect ourselves from outside forces that can do us or our family harm. This becomes even more important when you’re famous. More fame means more attention, and that means more people seeking to hurt you whenever they get an opportunity to do so. Take the recommended steps to mitigate or eliminate those opportunities so that you’re not at risk of physical or financial harm. Forgoing these precautions can end badly, so do your best to stay safe.