Are Your Vacation Photos Telling Everybody You're Not Home?

Are Your Vacation Photos Telling Everybody You're Not Home?

You're sitting on a beautiful beach, enjoying a drink with one of those little umbrellas in it. Back home, everybody's dealing with snow and freezing temperatures.

So naturally, you take a picture and post it on social media.

*Wish you were here! Two more weeks in paradise!*

I get it. You've been looking forward to this vacation for months, and you want to share it.

But think about what you just told everybody who sees that post.

You're not home. And you won't be home for another two weeks.

It's not just what you're posting

Whether you're using Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, or another platform, it's worth thinking about who can see what you're sharing.

Maybe your accounts are private. That's a good start, but it doesn't mean every person following you is someone you know well.

And sometimes we give away more information in the comments than we do in the original post.

Someone asks when you're coming home, and you answer without thinking.

*Not until the 28th! We're having the best time!*

Now you've told people exactly how long your house will be empty.

Have this conversation with your kids, too

This is one I really want parents to think about.

You might be careful about what you share, but what about your kids?

They're taking pictures, posting videos, sharing stories, and sending snaps to their friends.

And they might be sharing their location or announcing how long the family will be gone without giving it a second thought.

Before your next family vacation, have a conversation about what everybody is posting.

Explain why it's better not to announce that the whole family is away, share your return date, or post information that identifies your empty home.

You don't have to take away their phones or tell them they can't share anything.

Just help them understand that a picture can reveal more than they intended.

You can still share the pictures when you get home

Here's a simple solution.

Take all the pictures you want. Enjoy the beach, the restaurants, the sunsets, and whatever else you've been looking forward to.

Then share your favorites when you're home.

Nobody's going to enjoy your vacation pictures any less because you posted them a week later.

If you do want to share while you're away, check your privacy settings, avoid announcing your return date, and think twice before adding your exact location.

And make sure the rest of the family is doing the same.

Your house can give away your absence, too

Even if nobody in the family posts a single vacation picture, there are other ways people can tell nobody's home.

Imagine it's snowed three times since you left.

Every driveway on your street has tire tracks, footprints, or signs that somebody's been outside.

Except yours.

Or maybe there's a stack of packages sitting on your front porch, and the mailbox is overflowing.

Those are things you can take care of before you leave.

Arrange for someone to clear the driveway after a snowfall. Ask a neighbor to collect packages, and put your mail on hold if you'll be gone for an extended period.

You can also put a couple of lamps on timers so the house doesn't sit dark every evening.

Make sure somebody is checking on the house

While you're arranging for someone to collect the mail or clear the driveway, ask whether they'd be willing to check on the house, too.

And I mean actually check on it.

If you're going to be gone for several weeks or months, have someone you trust go inside periodically.

They can make sure the heat is working, look for signs of a water leak, and notice anything that needs attention.

Give them a working key or door code, show them where the thermostat and main water shutoff are, and make sure they know how to reach you.

A doorbell camera can show you who's on the porch, but it can't tell you whether there's water leaking under your kitchen sink.

Go ahead and enjoy your vacation

You don't have to stop posting pictures, and you certainly don't have to spend your trip worrying about your house.

Just remember that a vacation post can tell people more than you intended.

And make sure everyone traveling with you understands that, too.

Share thoughtfully, make arrangements for the house while you're gone, and save a few of those beautiful beach pictures for when you're back home.

Your friends will still be jealous of the sunshine.