Image metadata

[RyanMI]

Is there any way to toggle the Image Metadata or the Sharing options fields on/off for photos and albums?

The information the metadata reveals is… a bit much. I can’t imagine the average casual user would have any interest in it.

As for the sharing options, letting users opt out could give a greater sense of flexibility over privacy concerns.

 

[RyanMI]

From a quick search, it appears that XenForo has this capability. Or that a developer has written code to accomplish it at least.

it would go a long way toward protecting member privacy.

 

[deusex]

Ryan,

Sorry about the delay, this came in while I was on vacation and completely missed it.

What's in the displayed meta data that you're concerned about?

It's mostly camera information with some file specs like file size and dimensions. Xenforo doesn't natively allow me to turn on and off the meta information. There may be a hack but that would involve finding time to implement it. I would be more concerned if it was including location data but that is not being displayed. Not to mention, even if I did manage to turn off the display of the meta data, someone could always download the photo and upload it one of the countless websites that allow you to upload a photo and display it's meta data.

I just did a quick search on whether there's an addon to allow members to turn off and on the sharing options and I can't find any. I could probably do it globally but the sharing options help gain members to the site. Those photos are public anyway. Even if I turned off the sharing options, there's nothing stopping anyone from copying the photo (right clicking and selecting save as on a computer or clicking and holding on an iphone and I'm sure most other devices have a similar operation) and sharing it anywhere anyway. Some sites turn off right clicking for computers but even that it easy to get around - simply click F12 on your computer on most modern browsers and find the address in the html code - or simply do a screen capture.

This site is all about sharing. The Galley images are public. If a member doesn't want their images shared or even seen by everyone, they can post them in a private or semi-private personal album. Even if one member is given permission to view another member's private albums, if they "share" the photo anywhere else (i.e. copy the url) it will not display as it's coming from a protected part of this website.

I'm not saying no to either, just weighing things in at this point. My time is VERY limited and I'm not about to spend hours implementing something that I'm not convinced will make that much of a difference.

Cheers,

John.

 

[RyanMI]

I’m sensitive to this because of a couple incidents from the old site, where other members took photos from my private albums and posted them to Tumblr…and those are just the instances I caught. Tumblr put the burden on me to prove the photos were mine, even claiming an outdoor pic (that I took myself with a timer in the woods) was “in a public place” and therefore didn’t need to be taken down. I had to hit them with a formal complaint. The entire experience soured me on sharing photos, and it’s only with the launch of this new site that I’ve re-engaged with a community I truly enjoy.

I get that the internet is the Wild West, but time spent enhancing privacy options makes a better, stronger, and safer community. A few bad actors can spoil everything you’ve built.

I hope you’ll consider this, at least for the long list of future enhancements.

 

[deusex]

Trust me, I know all about it. Jockstrap Central photos are always showing up on other websites. I don't mind if they still have our branding attached (it's part of our marketing strategy) but lots of people remove the tags before posting. We've even had competing online stores using our photos.

I also know the burden Tumblr and many other sites put on you to prove photos are yours as we've had to go through it as well.

But my point is that removing the sharing block won't stop your photos from being shared - they can do it here or on your blog or anywhere else. I was just on your blog, right clicked on your unbelievably hot photo, selected copy image and a quick past and...



Why don't you try doing some subtle watermarking? As mentioned with our photos, it doesn't work all the time but most people sharing photos will respect the watermarking/tagging. At least that way, you're getting credit and would be a lot easier for you to claim it as yours. Perhaps.

 

[RyanMI]

Trust me, I know all about it. Jockstrap Central photos are always showing up on other websites. I don't mind if they still have our branding attached (it's part of our marketing strategy) but lots of people remove the tags before posting. We've even had competing online stores using our photos.

I also know the burden Tumblr and many other sites put on you to prove photos are yours as we've had to go through it as well.

But my point is that removing the sharing block won't stop your photos from being shared - they can do it here or on your blog or anywhere else. I was just on your blog, right clicked on your unbelievably hot photo, selected copy image and a quick past and...

View attachment 53927

Why don't you try doing some subtle watermarking? As mentioned with our photos, it doesn't work all the time but most people sharing photos will respect the watermarking/tagging. At least that way, you're getting credit and would be a lot easier for you to claim it as yours. Perhaps.

That photo is actually a friend of mine in Finland. It IS unbelievably hot

I want to be a Utopian idealist, and I have aspirations to make “art,” which has stopped me from doing any branding or watermarking. I strongly believe that to build trust, we have to extend trust. Sadly, this backfires on me sometimes.

My personal mission is a little different than a business model, where branding and watermarking guide people back to your store page. I respect that difference.

I did a quick search of a Xenforo forum back when I posted the OP, and found a third party developer who had made an add-on that could do what I hope for, and place the flexibility in the hands of users. Some probably don’t care, or even want to go viral. Some do care, and just want to share with a small, likeminded (and known) group.

Maybe it’s shades of personality, or just preference, or in some cases past trauma. I’m advocating for it because like with underwear styles, personal choice matters. I wish you had all the help you need to work on all the behind the scenes stuff, I know it doesn’t happen by magic.

I could try to find that forum post again.

 

[deusex]

For sure, if you can find it that would be a great first step.

As I mentioned, I rarely have time to think these days.

On top of my normal workload, we're stepping up our product launch schedule at Jockstrap Central which means more and more photo shoots, editing and everything else involved in launching and marketing the products. Although I'm not very active here, I'm sure you know that I'm trying to maintain a presence over at Your Jockstraps (not that I mind as I truly love it over there) and that also takes time. I also have some major programming and design jobs that I've been putting off for a few years and I absolutely have to dive in and get it done - namely a complete redesign and modernization of Jockstrap Central (front and back end) along with a complete customer portal. It's a huge undertaking - and there's just me to do it.

 

[RyanMI]

Here’s what I’ve found so far

Add option to remove EXIF data from images/attachments (such as GPS data)

There should be an option to remove EXIF data from images. Leaving things like GPS data can be a serious privacy issue: Many people won't realize that this data is added to their photos and may expose more than they want. There is an addon from @wmtech that does this for XF1, but has no XF2...

xenforo.com

MG 2.0 - Media Gallery Metadata Block

Hello, wondering, how to disable the metadata-block in media view. There are much privat informations and not anyone should see them. Searched in permission settings and config settings but nothing found to disable this block.

xenforo.com

 

[RyanMI]

Oh, and maybe this too! https://xenforo.com/community/resources/wmtech-exif-location-data-remover.4428/

 

[musclethong]

Is there any way to toggle the Image Metadata or the Sharing options fields on/off for photos and albums?

The information the metadata reveals is… a bit much. I can’t imagine the average casual user would have any interest in it.

As for the sharing options, letting users opt out could give a greater sense of flexibility over privacy concerns.

Late to the game here, but my suggestion, and what I do, before uploading images TO ANY SITE is to use an application to strip all the metadata from the image. Also rename the image because default naming conventions can also reveal the device that was used to take the image.

 

[Old Guy]

Which app do you use?

 

[musclethong]

Which app do you use?

I use Photo Metadata Remover

Photo Metadata Remover - Apps on Google Play

Clear metadata in photos (device model, location, etc.) & protect your privacy.

play.google.com