Sue Scheff's New Podcast Page on Internet Abuse

Check out my new Podcasts on Internet Defamation, Internet Gossip, Internet Slander and Cyberbullying. This is becoming a major concern among people and parents today. I will continue to be a voice against Cyber Crimes and Internet Harassment.

Sue Scheff featured on CBC News: Sunday Morning News Magazine

CBC News Television - Sunday Morning News Magazine

How can you fight back when your personal information - whether true or false - ends up on the Internet for everyone to see, like a potential employer, for example? We give you tips on protecting your reputation online.

Colleges, Potential Employers, Future Clients and Networking Sites

We keep hearing about more and more people searching online for background information on potential new employees, college applicants, or if someone is considering using your business for a service or trade.

Parents need to take the time now with their kids to show them what they create on their MySpace profiles, Facebook, Friendster and other Social Networking sites could potentially effect their future.

We, as parents, need to make them aware of what they put on there today - could effect them tomorrow. Of course, kids don’t quite understand that the future comes faster than they can imagine. After-all, in most cases college is years away! (In reality they are only 2-8 years away - which isn’t that far off, but feels like an eternity to a child).

Take the time to offer examples and show how what they may deem as funny today, could potentially cause embarrassment later. Remember, what is posted on the net today - has the potential of staying there forever!

Teaching your kids to make smart online decisions is now part of parenting our kids today. One service I always recommend parents consider, that is very cost effective, is Reputation Defender MyChild. This service helps monitor your child’s activity that is relevant to their name and privacy.

Another article I found to help parents and offer tips is Colleges and Networking Sites by Connect with Kids. Take a moment to check out the Tips for Parents.

States Seek to Control CyberBullying

Many states are finally stepping up to protect people, especially children, from Online Bullies!

As a victim and survivor of Internet Harassment - I believe it that there are limits and this will not infringe on the free speech issue. It is about protecting children and keeping the Internet Safe.

Here are some recent News Articles:

AHN - States Seek to Control Online Bullying

USA Today - States Push for Cyberbully Controls

Manage Your Online Reputation

As both a victim and now a survivor of Online Attacks, Internet Defamation, Cyberstalkers from extremely disturbed people (in my opinion) I have fought back and won! In an unprecedented jury verdict for damages, I was awarded $11.3M for what one woman did to me online. The jury took time to read the hundreds of posts of clear defamation and slander in an attempt to destroy me, my organization and hurt my family.

In many interviews I have been asked ”why” do people find the need to hurt others? I simply don’t have that answer. We can speculate, but I believe deep down people are not happy with themselves and feel the need to project their misery on to others.

John Dozier of Dozier Internet Law wrote an excellent article the outlines potential persona’s of these type of people. “The Ten Top Blogger Personas: The Mobosphere Unvieled.” Then Jacqui Cheng wrote about the “Nutjobs” that feel the need to hurt others online. It is obvious this is a growing problem.

Read more about Online Reputation and Personal Responsibility.

Take the time to protect your online reputation - if you need to reach out for help, Reputation Defender is one of the services today that has helped protect many people and takes extra steps to protect our children with MyChild.

Sue Scheff: A Voice Against Internet Defamation and Promoting Internet Safety

Cyberbullying has become a past-time for some people, that in my opinion, have too much time on their hands. Wouldn't it be nice if they could find some constructive work that may actually help people?

Since I have been put in the media attention with my court victories including winning an unprecedented $11.3M jury verdict for damages, I am now working with one of my Florida State Senator's and we have our first meeting with our Congresswoman this month.

It is time to make Cyberspace a safe place not only for children, but for people that are being ruined by people with too much time on their hands - and people that believe that free speech is a free for all on the Internet. Remember, free speech does not condone defamation and libelous statements.

As I begin the garnishment of the defendant that has $11.3M judgment on her - it should be a reminder to all those that want to hurt others with a stroke of a key.

The "obsession" with me may not stop, but I will use it to help others and use it to promote Internet Safety. Taking all the negative and turning it into a positive result..... Fighting back against Internet Abuse and helping protect others from the type of harassment.

Sue Scheff: Net Users Wake Up To Price of Indiscretion

New Zealanders are employing "reputation protection" companies to eliminate inappropriate content about them on internet sites such as Facebook, fearing it could damage their employment or dating prospects.


Dubbed "digital housekeeping", the online clean-up is one of the issues trend-spotters say will emerge in 2008 as the public wakes up to the potential dangers of social sites, blogs and online reviews.

American company Reputation Defender is spearheading the trend and has five Kiwi customers on its books. Director Michael Fertik says four of them are paying the company US$9.95 a month to undertake detailed internet searches hunting for inappropriate, hurtful or inaccurate information and negotiating its removal if required.

Fertik says customers mainly use the service to ensure they impress employers who routinely check social networking sites such as Facebook, Bebo and MySpace before going ahead with job interviews. But many clients are also concerned about potential dates digging up dirt that could damage a blossoming relationship.

In New Zealand, recruitment agencies are running online background searches.

"It's becoming incredibly common," says Julie Cressey, organisational development manager for Madison Recruitment. Facebook is one of the common sites her agency checks, using it to see who potential employees network with.

Cressey says expressing your personality online is fine but the red flag comes out for those posting "inappropriate photos" or making "outlandish commentary".

New Zealand-based public speaker and author of Reputation Branding Hannah Samuel says people need to be educated about the long-term effects of internet content especially young people and their parents, who are often blissfully unaware of the real consequences of the virtual world.

Internet users can at least control what sites they join and what they post about themselves.

Samuel's checklist includes asking how parents, employers or a potential life partner would feel about the material and: "would I cringe in embarrassment or be ashamed if it appeared again?"

But once material is online, removing it becomes difficult.

"Nothing is secret and whatever you put out there can stay out there forever," says Eaden McKee, director of web development company Webforce.

Fertik says Reputation Defender staff have a "broad suite of solutions available", from asking for content to be removed to legal action.

And internet users are taking the initiative themselves, in some cases voluntarily shutting down their online profiles. In what has been dubbed "Facebook suicides", some Facebook users leave notes or give their friends one final "poke" before leaving their profiles behind. The Facebook Mass Suicide Club website says: "Fed up with Facebook? Don't like having your info shared with the world? ... Have you ever thought about just deleting your account and freeing yourself? If Facebook is controlling and consuming your life then this is a group for you."

McKee says individuals or businesses can use Google Alerts to notify them when any relevant material is posted.

But experts agree the best protection is not posting inappropriate pictures or comments in the first place.