Were you like me when you first heard GDPR? What’s a GDEEPLOPROP? Basically – it took me at least a week to remember the letters GDPR and figure out exactly how they affect me.
Then as more information (sketchy at best) started rolling in, things sprilaled out of control.
What follows is my 5 stages of dealing with implementing GDPR by the May 25th deadline.
Stage #1
To implement the new GDPR you have to alert users that your blog uses cookies and they need to accept or say no & have a clear privacy policy explaining how you collect and store personal information. Blogger installed this notice months ago! I already have a privacy policy.
Maybe a few tweaks here & there. No problem. Next….
Stage #2
Do a little research to make sure I cover all my bases and tweak policy. I’ll be done by lunch.
Stage #3
So yes, Blogger installed the cookie bar months ago but we’re responsible for making sure it works. The issue? If you’re in the US YOU CAN’T SEE IT.
And this privacy policy shit is WAY more complicated than it first appeared
Stage #4
PANIC
8 hours (PER DAY - 5 DAYS) later…
I’m going to violate something and my blog will be deleted.
I will be fined $1,000.000
I’m going to jail!
BREATHE
Stage #5
Fuck it!
If my blog is gone Friday morning it was meant to be.
I wasn’t enjoying blogging anymore anyway.
Okay…so I’m still here and more importantly my blog is still here (& I'm not in jail!) so I will live to fight another blogging day. But man! This was a pain in the ass and I’m still messing with my privacy policy as I learn new information.
I'm going to assume that we are tiny fish in a big, information gathering pond and that we're not the main focus and hopefully get back to reading and blogging - stress free(ish) again.
How have you all been dealing with this GDPR stuff?
*(thank you Offbeat YA & Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell for repeatedly checking my site and sending photos! & to all the bloggers who were willing to share there policies and struggles so we could make a version for our blogs)
I'm with you. It's been a major pain in the neck and I'm still not sure if I've done things correctly. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteI know I've missed a few things that I have to add. I'm a little better now that I have the bulk of it done though and my blog still exist as of today lol
DeleteI made a custom privacy banner for my site 3 years ago, when the EU implemented the rule. At least it matches the blog LOL. I don't even know if I was supposed to, because we already had the native Google banner in place, BUT we were supposed to link it to our personal privacy policy? just in case? (Also, I have a .it blog but I write for an international audience...it's all so confusing). Of course for the policy I used a template, substituting my blog address to the mock one, but I don't have a clue if it's legit or not...I doubt anyone does anyway. I "THINK" that, if we don't use AdSense or anything like that, and we don't advertise stuff on the blog, we "SHOULD" be safe...but who darn knows. Someone might decide that the book we loved so much that we're shouting from rooftops about it is being advertised in exchange for money...
ReplyDeleteAll this situation is surreal - AND stupid. And more than anything, disingenuous. OF COURSE we have to give our consent to everything under the sun just because we use a computer or have an email address or whatnot. And say what you want, we NEVER know what the consequences are...but we couldn't avoid them anyway, unless we decided to live on a desert island without wi-fi and eat coconuts. I'm afraid that, rule after rule, the powers-that-be will corner us into shutting all our blogs off unless we pay for this and that. I saw it happen with local radio stations in Italy - like blogs nowadays, there were tons of them around in the '80s, until taxes and rules and legal necessities axed the vast majority of them, while the ones still up and running (like the one I work in) struggle to comply and are bled dry.
Quote: "I'm going to jail".
The REAL Blogger jail! LOL.
The problem here is I can't see it. I'm afraid to tweak anything because I can't easily check to see if I'm complying. Super frustrating.
DeleteOMG you're right! there will be a REAL BLOGGER JAIL. lol
It's stupid that you in the US can't see the banner. There should be a way.
DeleteIf I had a blogspot address I could - I just have to switch the end to UK but I have a domain name so nope. I tried a few 3rd party suggestions but still can't see it. So I have ZERO clue what it actually says lol
Deletelol, same here but I've just been ignoring it and hoping blogger will take care of it on their end. This morning when I logged onto blogger they had a big notice saying they added a notice to my blog and I figured I'd be all set BUT I COULDN'T SEE IT! After wasting countless moments, I reread their notice to me and it said if I logged on to my website using a UK address I would be able to see it and I could. Phew! Here's what I logged on with: https://barksbooknonsense.blogspot.co.uk/
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing I'm ok but if not I'll just end my blog. I don't make any $ at all and I could take or leave it at this point.
I can't do that because I have a domain name. You can only use the UK if you have a blogspot address.
DeleteThey did that Automatically so that's cool but you still need some sort of privacy policy on your blog but I don't think you do giveaways or accept requests, or use subscription services (bloglovin, email) so it should be a simple generic one.
I'm at that point too. If it's too much more trouble - I'm out.
Oh I just started dealing with this! I was out of the loop and now scrambling. I am also very not tech savvy so UGH. I am working on the privacy policy and looking for plug in for wordpress. Also figuring out if I have to send out some sort of email to people on my email list about being on it? I don't know. My head hurts lol.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to for the email list because they had to sign up for it themselves - thereby giving consent.
DeleteIn my policy I just made sure to say you can opt out at any time. I need to add bloglovin though. I only mentioned Feedburner.
Lol, yes it was there again and I clicked yes once again ;)
ReplyDeleteI...eh, if they deleted my blog then eh, I really can not be bothered. I know, what is wrong with me!
I kinda feel the same. Like it's a message to let it go??? lol
DeleteI'd miss it like crazy and cry, but yes at the same time, what a relief...
DeleteBUt...So I was thinking and maybe if I made a tiny effort...can I just steal all of yours, preeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetty please. You had one awesome privacy policy
I saw that Blogger said they were going to do that and after I saw that notice, I just stopped worrying. I have enough stress without this mess. lol
ReplyDeleteYes, they take care of the cookie notification but we're still supposed to have a privacy policy on the blog and ideally it is supposed to link to their notification bar but I CAN'T SEE IT Grrrrrr lol
DeleteLooks like you covered the bases. I've read a few of the explanations by those who read the policies and you're right in line with what most are doing.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, it will be this one headache and it will cover things for years to come.
I assume that the info will also get clearer as time passes since it was a big confusing jumble as we raced to the due date.
DeleteUm. I haven't even heard of this. But, I guess if my blog doesn't comply then sure, delete it, whatever.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they care about us small potato blogs. It's more difficult if you have WP because it collects a lot on information from plug-ins.
DeleteGDPR is unnecessarily stressful but bloggers (book bloggers who make little to NO money on their blogs) aren't exactly the people they're targeting with the legislation... But obviously it still applies.
ReplyDeleteI've done what I can (and not being in the US I can see the cookie things cropping up, don't worry!) and I'm not worried about it anymore. They give you a written warning before any further action is taken so if I've messed something up hideously - and I somehow end up on someone's radar - then I figure they'll tell me and I'll work it out then!
I get why it's being done but it's such a confusing mess because not all of us do this for money or at the same levels. It's not like we have lawyers on call.
DeleteAnd not having a way to see if you're even complying is ridiculous.
I think I covered the basics and now I'm not worrying about it anymore. lol
Lmao yes I needed this post. I basically went from not even knowing about this, to denial, to not that worried, to full-blown panic. And yep, the panic was the longest stage lol. I'm cracking up so much at "If my blog is gone Friday morning it was meant to be. I wasn’t enjoying blogging anymore anyway." Yep, I've done my best, and that's all I can do at this point!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't in panic as much as WILL THIS EVER END??? lol
DeleteI thought I had my policy pretty inclusive but obviously it wasn't and tbh - I have zero idea how information is collected and used so it's hard to explain it to anyone else or how I'll handle it because I can't find it myself lol
Stage 5 made me laugh out loud so hard. that's about how I feel at this point. :)
ReplyDeleteYeah....at this stage I wonder if they are trying to kill blogging. They throw obstacle after obstacle at us from all sides.
DeleteOh it's been making me stabby and I've been cursing the EU for being well a word you wouldn't use. lol Then seriously considered putting a ban on all EU members so they just can't see the dang blog.
ReplyDeleteI had that thought too but then realized at least 1/2 my followers are from the EU and I would hate to lose them. Plus it will end up happening here too.
DeleteI just wish the guidance was clearer.
All these advice post say...we can't tell you what to say. No. TELL ME WHAT TO SAY! lol
You're don't enjoy blogging anymore?! (Yes, this is where my mind tripped up, lol.) I'm sorry if your feeling meh about it, but I'm glad you're still here! *hugs*
ReplyDeleteAs you know... I was freaking out about the privacy policy and GDPfuckingR, but Jacob kept telling me to relax and not worry about it. He's so carefree about my stress, haha.
L @ Do You Dog-ear?
Nah - I'm fine. Irritated but fine lol
DeleteI was rationalizing that if my blog disappeared I would just tell myself that.
I was more pissed at how confusing they made it than nervous. I don't think we're the targets but it's annoying that they're asking us everyday/causal bloggers to implement something that almost requires legal knowledge with next to zero guidance.
I may be dumb but I barely even understand cookies or what my blog collects so to try to explain in a policy???
Right now, I'm pulling out all my hair. I've regressed to no longer giving a fuck because I can't spend so much of my time fixing this shit when I'm not even getting paid to do this. Bah.
ReplyDeleteThat's where I am now. Fuck it lol I did what I could whatever happens - happens.
DeleteOh gosh, you know I was having trouble with all my tweets. LOL I do appreciate all the bloggers checking out my blog and making sure things were okay. I THINK I have it covered, but I'll be updating things as I read more I guess...but yeah, I don't think we're the ones that are going to really be looked at much.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I'm just going with I've done what I could and hopefully no one cares about little old me. lol
DeleteOh man. I will admit, I haven't put much effort into the thing. I've read a few blogs that talk about it and all their info goes over my head. I'm just like... I need to know what?! Where on earth do I find that? One blogger was nice enough to list how to find the WP privacy policy template. I just popped that up and tweeked it about, but not to the extent that you did. I still need to add more to it but I'm kind of at stage 5 myself and I didn't overly stress about it. LoL
ReplyDeleteI think WP is both more complicated (because it collects more information) and easier because they have plugins to help.
DeleteI didn't care at all at first because I felt like blogger did the notice - I have a privacy policy so I'm good but I guess not.
I honestly have no clue what anyone collects and would ever even be able to find anyone's info if I tried lol
I haven't been thinking about this since I'm just a small blog, but I know this has been stressing so many people out. :/ This post totally made me laugh, though. xD I think you've mostly covered all the bases, so congrats on that. Plus, your lovely blog's still here :)
ReplyDelete- Aimee @ Aimee, Always
I think for us - all we need that cookie bar and a privacy policy since we're just a small blog.
DeleteBut it still collects information every time anyone visits so better to have the bases covered.
I was looking into this today as well, I'm in Australia and can't see it on your blog either. I couldn't find any information about how it works on Blogger with a custom domain, none of the blogs I've seen like ours have it displayed. I think the first time you're contacted is just a warning but as long as your keep up your policy then it should cover everything. For something that is supposedly a big deal, there's very little information around for blogger blogs isn't there. I'm just leaving mine and will back up my blog daily.
ReplyDeleteFuck them all to fuckery ♥♥♥
There are a few sites that supposedly allow you to view your blog in other countries but I can't see the blogger notification in any of them. Most of my friends can so I don't know what else to do but hope it's there or no one cares about small bloggers.
DeleteI don't want to mess with coding too much since I can't see it. I won't know if I fucked anything up.
It's crazy to require all of this and expect layman to understand and be able to write up legal policies on the fly.
Hahaha well you know that I've been researching this. Wordpress does not offer a banner as far as I know. I just decided to go with implicit consent to cookies (because who doesn't understand that everyone uses cookies) and update my privacy policy to explain what I do. If that's not good enough, then I will have to wait for Wordpress to build in a way for people to opt out of cookies. I guess Blogger only shows the banner to EU people? That works, I think.
ReplyDeleteJen Ryland Reviews
Yes, it's only visible to EU people - which is fine except that we are responsible for verifying that it's there and we...can't see it??? lol
DeleteI plan on posting my own privacy policy soon to keep up with this. I have no idea if the blogger automatic one is working but it will have to be until I post my own policy. Yes this is super stressful and crazy inducing and I'm a lawyer lol
ReplyDeleteTori @ In Tori Lex
I had to ask people outside of the US to look for me. So stupid!
Deletenope not really dealing with it...other things I'm worrying about namely classes and kids lol Thanks again for the card.
ReplyDeleteThe joys of not blogging anymore lol
DeleteI deal with information policy for a living and I STILL found transitioning to GDPR compliance on my blog difficult! I'm with you re: that gif from The Big Lebowski...life goes on, man. Tbh that whole movie is full of gif-able moments that apply to this sort of thing lol
ReplyDelete