Block and delete... so easy.

But have you ever been in the midst of cutting off a LVM/NVM when he suddenly catches on?

Now you’re playing Block-a-mole!

He’s texting, emailing, DMing, airdropping, sending a letter, friend-requesting you with dummy accounts, etc.

This man is furious, and he’s more infuriated by every rebuff. Girl, you in danger!

Let’s go back in time, to you creating your accounts. Did you check to see how easy it was to block someone? Restrict access? Change your username? Delete your account?

Bet you were focused on how YOU were going to use that account... not how the ACCOUNT would be used to access YOU.

Behind “everything is forever,” this is another important rule of the internet (and real life, I guess), adapted for women:

“Access to you is the product.”

To expand on that, each time you create an account, or generate a new mode of communication, you create a pathway for people to access you by. Each pathway offers vectors of potential attack—misusing the information you willingly share, contacting you, coordinating harassment, etc.

As you begin to see and understand your own value, I urge you to also understand that access to you is also EXTREMELY valuable (even as a generic consumer). Limiting access is something you need to hold in constant awareness.

Block-a-mole is one example of why this is a crucial lesson. But there are others... so don’t be caught in a situation where you can’t lock it down immediately.

Don’t use iCloud storage, follow password recommendations (rotating pass phrases, don’t reuse them across accounts), don’t use one email for everything in case you need to ditch it, don’t let it all hang out on your social media, etc.

Limiting access to you is an essential part of your journey and your safety. Always assume a man is more technically savvy, wily and determined than you think. Yes, even men you do not know exist.

Stay alert!