A Devil Of A Past In The Internet Age

[Neverthesame]

I hate to say this, but. It sounds like you need a new job. Or a lawyer.

 

[mamachick]

I don't think it would be ethical to use someone else's photo, but as someone else said, a pet or imaginary pet would be good. You could also use a piece of art or scenery that you are fond of. Whatever your hobbies are or something, if nothing in art appeals to you. It does not have to have a distant shot of you in the photo. If you like art, you could use a famous picture that you like for example, or a sports team logo, or a gardening scene.

I know many professionals that are not using their last name, and instead using their first and middle so only friends can find, particularly those in mental health field as clients will often send friend requests. i.e.. Sara Beth instead of Sara Jones, Katie Ann instead of Katie Smith. It makes it nearly impossible for someone to find them. If you wanted to use such sites and feared them finding you using first and middle, you could always make up a middle name and provide only that name to your friends/co workers. That would make it extremely unlikely that you would be discovered as long as you do not use your high school or other information that would connect you.

 

[Dana1010]

Or a lawyer.

Right? I'm thinking it must be against some kind of law to force someone to post a picture of themselves online.

I don't think it would be ethical to use someone else's photo, but as someone else said, a pet or imaginary pet would be good. You could also use a piece of art or scenery that you are fond of. Whatever your hobbies are or something, if nothing in art appeals to you. It does not have to have a distant shot of you in the photo. If you like art, you could use a famous picture that you like for example, or a sports team logo, or a gardening scene.

They specifically forbid these types of photos in the message. No cartoons of you, no pets, no landscapes. It has to be your face and maybe neck and shoulders, but no more.

that are not using their last name, and instead using their first and middle so only friends can find, particularly those in mental health field as clients will often send friend requests.

You're talking about social sites here, right? This is a work site I'm dealing with. You're name has to match your financial/tax records. Anyway, it's not so much the name that bothers me it's the picture. I mean what if your ex-husband's a stalker or something? There are lots of people in situations like that. How can they not consider them?

 

[Deleted member 29920]

I really don't like the sound of your employers. If it was me, I'd do a self portrait that sorta looks like me/sorta doesn't. That'd probably piss them off though.

 

[Dana1010]

I really don't like the sound of your employers.

They're not my employers. They are the operators of a web platform for connecting clients with people who can complete work projects for them.

 

[Neverthesame]

Do you meet the clients in person?

Or is there any other aspect of the job what require these clients to know what you look like?

If not, that's pretty unreasonable of this web platform service.

 

[Dana1010]

Do you meet the clients in person?

Or is there any other aspect of the job what require these clients to know what you look like?

No. They say they need it for "verification purposes." But they don't have any other picture of me to verify it against, so it doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Deleted member 29920]

That really doesn't make sense, they sound like nosy assholes. How the heck does not having a photo of you affect your work?

 

[Neverthesame]

That's a tad suspicious, with a far too vague reason.

If I were in your shoes. I would contact this agency, then demand a real explanation of why they want my picture. I would also want to know what specifically happened to bring about this sudden "security" issue.

If they argue that it is none of my business. I would then say that it most certainly is. I wouldn't give any company any personal information, especially if they just decided to beef up their security all of a sudden. Usually means something bad happened, that the company is reacting to.

But they don't have any other picture of me to verify it against

That looks like a red flag to me.

Finally, I would demand an explanation for how my personal info is being used, why it's being used and how they are going to protect my information.

 

[Silver.]

If the operators of the platform have never met you, how would a "real" picture benefit them in any way? They could never verify that all the pictures uploaded are indeed users of that site.
I would seek out other sites to use, as others have said, this is a seedy request with too many negatives.
best of luck x

 

[joeylittle]

@Dana1010 - are you employed by them, or do you pay to use their platform, or is it some mutual situation where they receive a commission based on moneys you earn while using the platform?

 

[Dana1010]

mutual situation where they receive a commission based on moneys you earn while using the platform?

This.