I hope to contribute to discussion about blogging and reblogging. I’ve written previously about referencing and the avoidance of plagiarism. Today I’m going to look at blogging and the theft of creative copyright and intellectual property (the content of our blog posts) which is wrong, and the use of reblogging which by many is considered to be a grey area.
It is clear that theft is wrong, so when someone steals work on a blog site and passes it off as their own, they are plagiarising someone else’s work and we will stand against this. This type of theft is black and white – don’t steal our work.
I try to set an example for my students as to the correct ethical behaviour and always try to correctly reference other people’s ideas and work.
Reblogging
Reblogging allows others to share your blog on their own or other sites but this should provide a link back to the original blog and should only display part of your post, not he whole article.
It transpires that although we can disable the reblog button on our own WordPress blogs, it does remain active on the WP Reader. It is integrated into the Terms and Conditions we have with WordPress that can be reblogged/shared. The only way to have some control over this is to stop using the reblog button.
However, I’m not sure blocking the reblog option is the right move because there are a lot of bloggers who post and respond to “prompt” blogs. A blogger will post an image, phrase etc to encourage others to share their ideas and responses to these prompts, using the reblog button to share the original post. I, myself, participated in one of these and they can be an enjoyable part of the blogging experience so I would certainly not want to discourage this type of fun and creative activity
Therefore, while we may not wish the reblogging button used in more detailed, lengthy blogs, there are other times where the reblog button is an integral part of the blogging experience (prompt blogs).
Reblogging does have a purpose, but I don’t think it should be forced upon us; it should be our decision and not something enforced on us through the terms and conditions. Our only way to counter this is to stop using the reblog button when posting pieces like this.
I am turning off the reblog button with my posts – well I will when I figure out where to do this – oops.
🙂 First of all, I recommend that you do this on a laptop computer or a desktop computer (It is easier that way).
Click on “My Site”; it is situated on the top left-hand corner of the page; it will forward you to the dashboard area.
The next step is to scroll down until you see “Tools”; when you place your cursor on it, “Marketing” will appear at the right (Click on it).
When you click on “Marketing” you will see the “Sharing Buttons” tab (Click on it); you will be taken to the place that allows you to edit your sharing buttons; in there you will be able to disable the “Reblog” button.
Things were much easier to do in the previous versions of WordPress. One was able to locate what they wanted to find with ease.
Today, things are deeply hidden in the dashboard. It is as though WordPress does not want us to discover them.
Thank you so much Renard. Marketing is the one area I didnt check last night.
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It is integrated into “the Terms and Conditions” we have with WordPress that can be reblogged/shared.
Don’t blog without going through the rules set by WordPress. It’s essential.
Thanks for reading and commenting Lokesh
I have no reblog button enabled.
Given one of the big pitfalls of reblogging, you’ve made a wise decision, Brenda.
I know some bloggers who have been fined for copyright infringement after reblogging other bloggers’ posts. The posts that were reblogged had images or photos that were copyrighted. When reblogged, pictures and photos from that post are downloaded into your WordPress library. Therefore, anyone who reblogs faces the possibility of downloading images or pictures that are copyrighted.
There is a much safer option to share blog posts we like using the WordPress ‘Press This’ martlet When used, no images or photos are downloaded from the post being shared; thus, the blogger sharing the content is not liable for any copyright infringement.
Thanks for that tip Hugh. I’ll have a look at the ‘Press This’ option after work.
Thanks for sharing useful information.
you’re welcome 🙂