Anonymity, Respect, and Privacy in Remote Work Europe Facebook Groups: What You Need to Know

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1 Jul

Remote Work Europe began on Facebook!

Once upon a time, as a world of came out of lockdown, I realised I was getting more questions from people than businesses, about how to work remotely. People who had had a taste of location-independent life, and didn’t want to go back to someone else’s office…

So back in the summer of 2021, the Remote Work Spain group was born, and since that time we have inagurated many more thriving communities across our region (at the end of this post I will put a link to the current list, and you’re welcome to join more than one if you are pondering a relocation, or you have a third culture approach to life and work.)

Today the Remote Work Europe Facebook groups are vibrant communities where digital nomads, remote workers, and freelancers connect, share insights, and support each other. We welcome everyone who doesn’t want to spam or exploit our members, and we welcome a diverse range of content and posts, including anonymous posts. However, it's crucial to understand the nuances of privacy and anonymity within these public forums to protect your personal information and maintain a positive experience.

Understanding Public Access

Our Facebook communities are public, meaning any of Facebook's 3 billion members could potentially read those posts and comments.

Exactly what YOUR friends and family reads depends on a range of factors, including your settings, theirs, the Facebook algorithm, the phases of the moon, and whether they are specifically searching. However, the fact remains that anything in a public group can theoretically be seen by anyone looking in the right direction.

While this openness fosters a diverse exchange of ideas, it also raises concerns about privacy. Personal information such as tax details, personal plans, and work-related dilemmas might not be suitable for public discussion, and posts which might disclose such information about other people will simply not be approved.

We also disallow ‘name and shame’ type posts for the same reason, despite our mandate to stamp out scams and extortion - we totally appreciate when people have had a bad experience they want to warn others, but because the moderators are liable for approved content, we cannot permit posts which identify other people or businesses. We absolutely encourage you to share whatever else you can, about their MO and approach, to help others avoid getting caught, and we’ll work with you to create a post that will be as informative as possible, without identifying either party directly.

The Importance of Privacy

Discussing sensitive topics like taxes, relocation strategies, getting ripped off, and workplace challenges, can be risky in a public forum. Your details might be accessible to people you don't know, leading to potential misuse or unwanted contact. It's essential to consider the implications before sharing any information that could compromise your privacy.

Encouraging Transparency and Openness

Throughout Remote Work Europe’s website and social accounts, we encourage transparency and openness by default. However, we understand that some topics require discretion. Our approach balances the need for open dialogue with the necessity of protecting personal information.

For example, we never publish anonymous recruitment ads to maintain the integrity of our community. Instead, we focus on providing a safe space for meaningful conversations about remote work and related topics. If you’re hiring we will help you, and free of charge - but you will be required to disclose who you are, what company is hiring, what the pay is, and the basic contractual terms (e.g. does the work require a visa or to be established as a freelancer.)

Admin and Moderator Oversight

While our groups are public, it is important to understand that the team of admins and moderators can always see who is posting.

This means you are not anonymous to us. We actively monitor the group to ensure compliance with community guidelines, and to protect members from inappropriate content or behaviour.

We preapprove almost all posts to maintain the quality and relevance of discussions. Additionally, we respond promptly to flagged and reported issues. It's important to use the 'report to admin' function instead of 'report to Facebook', to ensure we address your concerns quickly and effectively.

Avoiding Post-Posting Regret!

One common scenario we want to avoid is members posting and later wishing they hadn't. We all hate those threads where a good discussion unfolds, and different points of view are healthily aired (in a way which does not violate our rule number one about hate speech and discrimination) - but then someone huffily deletes a swathe of comments, or even the whole post 🤦🏻‍♀️

So if you’re posting something potentially controversial, challenging, or political - be prepared for vigorous debate!
And if you’re engaging, then engage with the subject respectfully, and appropriately. Challenge ideas and opinions, NOT individuals. We don’t slap rule 1 around lightly, and we consider that our community is made up of adults who can disagree appropriately.

For avoidance of doubt, It’s okay to say “I think that idea/article is a load of **** and here is WHY…”.

It is NOT okay to say “I think you are full of **** to say something like that” or “go back where you came from if you think xxxx”

Another kind of comment that is not okay:

One thing that we have come across is when someone asks a question about a job, or a job offer.

We totally appreciate that many people are desperate for work, but we need our communities to be a place where people can ask questions about things that concern them without getting mobbed, and it’s not okay that someone mentioning when they have secured a remote job can lead to an influx of questions like, "Which company is it?" or "How did you get that job?"

While these inquiries may stem from genuine curiosity, they can be intrusive and uncomfortable.

Securing a remote job involves a combination of skills, experience, and persistence.

Each individual's journey is unique, and replicating someone's success requires personal effort and determination. Maybe a bit of luck, but not pushy opportunism.
It's inappropriate to pressure someone for specific job details or recommendations.

A Call to Respect Privacy

Respecting each other's privacy is paramount in maintaining a supportive and respectful community. Before posting, consider whether the information you share is something you're comfortable having in the public domain. If not, it's better to seek advice or share details in a more private setting. Remember we have our premium community Remote Work Europe Connected, for anything that you need deeper or more in-depth support with at a very affordable rate with much greater privacy, or for complete confidentiality, we do offer private consulting.

We also offer a ton of free resources and links, right here on this site, and through our newsletter. Remote Work Europe is dedicated to helping you find the right remote job for you. Our website offers a wealth of resources to increase your knowledge, skills, and contacts. Whether you're looking for tips on landing a remote job, advice on managing remote work challenges, or opportunities to network with like-minded professionals, we've got you covered. So do explore our articles, guides, and forums to stay informed and connected. Use our resources to build your remote work career based on your unique skills and experiences.

Final Thoughts

Navigating the complexities of privacy and anonymity in public forums requires awareness and caution. By understanding the nature of our Facebook groups and respecting the privacy of others, we can create a thriving, supportive community for all remote workers.

Remember, your journey to securing a remote job is unique. Use the tools and resources available at Remote Work Europe to find the right path for you. Respect others' privacy, share responsibly, and contribute positively to our community.