How Social Media Sites Can Ruin Your Vacation

It happens all the time. People leave for anviolation of privacy. Chances are, you’re going
extended vacation, and return home toto forget about the wonderful memories you
destruction. I'm talking about Twittering yourhave frozen in time, and you’ll be dealing with
followers while your laying out on the beach,the all more real reality.
teasing about how fabulous the weather is, orSo what do you do?
how warm the water is, or even how the scentFirst, stop spreading the word. Your family and
of suntanning lotion is filling the air. Your followersfriends and fanbase can wait until you've returned
will probably feel a little jealousy, but after they'reto see all the fascinating photos and evidence of
done telling their followers whatever it is they'reyour life outside the box. Don’t tell the entire
doing at the moment, and they come back toworld you’re going on vacation, only a few
their reality, all is well and probably forgotten.(boss, close family, etc.).
I'm talking about how at the end of each fantasticSecond, don't be shy. Talk to your neighbors. You
and adventurous day you upload your vacationknow that one neighbor who seems to be soo
pictures onto your Myspace or Facebook profileperfect that you can't stand it at all? That
to show your fanbase, family and friends exactlyneighbor could end up being your savior. Start a
what you were doing when you didn't respond toneighborhood watch. Inform your closest
their text messages, emails or comments.neighbors that you'll be out of town for a period
See, I'm talking about the fact that while yourof time and ask if they could "keep an eye on
intentions are to show your admirers yourthings", check the mail, pick up the newspapers
travels, you could be inviting trouble. Think aboutdaily so they don't begin to pile up. Stuff like that.
it. You're on vacation, you're in la la land. You wereThird, take some security measures before you
so busy spending the previous week packing,leave. Put it on your checklist before leaving to
sending off emails, wrapping up work, going overtriple-check doors, windows and other entrances
your checklists, chances are, you've totallyonto your property. If you have an alarm
forgotten to ensure your home would be safesystem, set it, don't forget it. Invest in automatic
while you were on your little extravaganza.lights. You can get ones that are meant for the
By Tweeting, uploading pics and reminding theinside or the outside of your home. This, among
world over and over again that you are away,other things will help to disguise your home while
you've done just that. Alerted the world that youryou're on vacation.
home, your possessions, your safety zone is nowAlso, keep in mind that showing pictures of your
a free for all for whomever wants to cross yourdogs (especially if it’s a big, mean dog) should
perimeters line and take a peek of whatever it isbe posted on your social media accounts, let the
that is bestowed on the inside.bad guys know that you do have protection in
This is the perfect opportunity for wannabethe form of an aggressor. And if you like to hunt
criminals, expert intruders and boogy-man burglarsand have various, large guns, post those pictures
to break-in and scope out the goods, withoutalong side of your beach-going pictures. Remind
interruptions.the bad guys that you have weapons and
Social media sites ARE a great way to keep inyou’re not afraid to use them.
touch with the world, even when you're away.Doing things like this can help secure your home
But keep in mind that they can work against youeven more while you're on vacation. Don’t let
the same ways they work with you. It would besocial media sites ruin your vacation, or your trip
tragic to get home from a wonderful vacationhome!
and be greeted with a loss of belongings and a