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The more social media accounts you have, the more data companies collect. There’s an easy way to clean up old posts from Twitter, Facebook, Imgur, and more. Tap or click here to open a tool that can automatically remove posts from over 20 sites and apps.
Social media has come a long way since its inception, but not the best. Despite misinformation, scammers, hackers, cyberbullying, and invasive privacy practices, it’s easy to see why people are removing themselves from social media.
We understand that social media is a great way to stay in touch with the people you care about. It also makes it easy to receive updates from public figures you follow. Continue reading for tips on how to protect your privacy and security on social media.
1. Think before you post
Never forget that your social media audience is more than your close friends and followers. Your posts may still be available even if you make your account private. People can take screenshots of things you say and share them at will.
Think of all the celebrities and politicians apologizing for posts they deleted years ago—those screenshots are forever.
Before you post something, stop and think. What would happen if your spouse or significant other saw the post? What about your grandparents or children? Do not forget about your boss and colleagues. If you are a student, assume that your school, teachers, and classmates will also see your posts.
Anyone can view anything you post. If you’re worried about a certain person or group seeing it, don’t post it.
2. Do not exaggerate
Keep your personal life private. No one needs to know your medical history or financial situation.
Found a new job? Great, then let the world know. But don’t count your income. And don’t mention that the company is too cheap to fix a broken coffee maker. And while this may be a common theme, don’t talk negatively about co-workers.
Excessive access not only compromises your privacy, but also your security. Scammers see social media as a treasure trove of targets, and they love it when you show off cars, jewelry, cash, and other valuables. Don’t tempt bad people to search for you or your belongings.
3. Keep a low profile
Let’s just cut to the chase: Do not include this information in your profile:
- Your email address.
- Your home or work address.
- Your phone numbers.
This information may be used to track you or to learn more about you. Hackers only need a little information about you to start stalking you. And anyone in the world, including jealous exes, stalkers and cheaters, can look at your data to find out everything they need to know.
There are countless people search sites out there. So how do you protect your data? Tap or click here to view our list of matchmaking sites with detailed opt-out instructions.
The same rules apply to your photos. Do not take pictures in front of your home or the building where you work. These photos can be used to pinpoint your location.
4. Do not click on this ad
Scammers place ads that appeal to the things people want most: money and a good body. Follow this rule of thumb: Any social media ad that promises crazy riches and six-pack abs is probably a scam.
Click on the ad and you will be taken to a malicious website to enter personal information. Or you will receive a link that downloads malware to your device. Report suspicious ads and move on.
Cryptocurrency is a popular lure on social media and you will see it associated with famous personalities and celebrities. Stay away from any ad or profile that mentions cryptocurrency. If someone messages you about making money, losing weight, or getting more followers, just block them.
RELATED: Have you invested in cryptocurrency? Beware of mistakes that give criminals free rein to steal it
5. Do not take the bait
People love to argue on social media, and it can be pretty harmless when it comes to debating what kind of cheese is best to use on a grilled cheese sandwich. But things can heat up very quickly.
Arguing with someone you’ll never meet in real life only stresses you out. There is also the risk of angering them to the point where they lash out at you.
“Doxxing” is the act of revealing personally identifiable information about someone online, such as their name, home address, phone number, and work information, and then releasing all of that information to the public. If you push hard enough on some people, they can fool you.
If an exchange in a public post or private message starts to get out of hand, just back off. Nothing good will come of this. Some people live to troll, getting people into heated arguments. Ignore them and block them if necessary.
If you receive threatening messages, take screenshots of the conversation and report this profile immediately.
Bonus tip
A new version of drunken dialing is a drunken post. What looks good or fun at midnight may cost you a relationship or a job the next day.
Bottom line: Do not drink and fast!
Ready to quit Facebook? Tap or click here to delete all your photos and videos from Facebook before you switch off.
You may also like: 5 Online Dating Tips That Will Help You Stay Safe When Finding The One
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