Do you often take to social media to broadcast details from your life? Here’s why this habit may put your privacy and security at risk.
Today, hundreds of millions of us log onto our favorite social media sites daily. We shop, share photos and news, like posts and comments, send private messages, and much more. In fact, Northern and Western Europe are estimated to have the highest social media penetration rates in the world, at nearly 84% of the population.
However, our use of these platforms also has a darker side. "Oversharing" is a growing problem. At the very least, it can annoy your friends and family. In the worst case, it could lead to identity fraud. Criminals might steal your passwords or even target your belongings.
Even if you consider yourself quite privacy-savvy, platform owners frequently update their websites and apps, making constant vigilance essential. Let’s explore what not to share on social media — and why. These actions could put your physical and digital safety, along with that of your loved ones, at risk.
10 things to better keep to yourself
- Personally Identifiable Information (PII):
Fraudsters are always looking for small pieces of information about you that they can piece together to create a fake identity for scams. They could use this information to apply for credit in your name or open online accounts. Worse, they could use it to crack your passwords or security questions to completely hijack your account. Even seemingly innocuous details like your pet's name or your birth date should be kept confidential. - Travel Plans:
Posting a photo or an update expressing excitement about an upcoming holiday might seem harmless. But it could signal to someone monitoring your account that your property will be left unattended during that time. It's best to keep details vague; definitely no dates. For the same reason, it's much safer to post holiday pictures once you're back home. - Location Data:
As mentioned, there's a point where cybercrime and physical crime overlap, and that point is often on social media. If a criminal knows someone will be home alone, walking through a remote area, or that their property will be unoccupied, you can guess what might happen next. Keep your location data confidential whenever possible. Additionally, some social media platforms may automatically tag post locations. Sharing family events or friends' locations can inadvertently disclose where you or they live, work, or spend their time. - Expensive Purchases: Similar to travel plans, posting pictures of expensive jewelry or a flashy new car could provoke envy among your friends. But if anyone monitoring your account has darker schemes in mind, it might mark you as a potential target for mugging or burglary. Try to be conservative about posting information on any new purchases or gifts.
- Photos of Children:
Some parents love sharing photos of their children. But should parents consider whether their children are old enough to provide consent? Children might not appreciate pictures of themselves as naked babies or drooling toddlers plastered all over the internet when they're older. This doesn't even consider the more sinister individuals who might scrape the web for images of children. It also goes without saying that if you're thinking of posting images of anyone else's children, always get their consent first. Failing to do so could lead to legal issues. - Work-Related Grievances:
What's worse than having an expensive piece of jewelry stolen? Perhaps losing a job. That's why it's crucial to keep quiet about any controversial work-related happenings. If you need to vent, do so offline with a trusted colleague or friend. If HR or even a disgruntled colleague finds you've been complaining about your workplace, co-workers, or boss, it could land you in trouble. - Financial Details:
Similar to the PII example, it pays to keep your financial details private. So, never post any details of credit or debit cards. Even if the image looks too blurry or distant to be clearly viewed, it could be enough to give fraudsters a chance to grab it and combine it with other personal details in your account to commit identity fraud. - PII of Family and Friends:
Information shared on social media is often permanent, and not everyone is comfortable with their personal information or life details being shared online. Furthermore, you wouldn't want to risk your friends and family being defrauded online. So, treat their PII as you would your own: keep it under lock and key. - Social Media Giveaways:
Social media sites are full of prize draws and free giveaways. Often, these are poorly disguised attempts to get hold of users' PII or even to spread covert malware. Think twice before filling out any online forms and sharing links to giveaways. If they seem too good to be true, they usually are. - Private Conversations:
Social media is, by its nature, a public forum, even if your account is relatively locked down. That's why it's not the place to be sharing privileged or private information. If it's related to your workplace, it's even more crucial not to share. But even if it's relatively mundane news about your friendship group or family, it could cause unnecessary distress and acrimony if publicized. If it's not your news, don't share it.
Some tips to stay safe
So how can you avoid oversharing as per the above examples? Consider the following.
- Be Mindful Before You Post: Whether your profile is restricted or not, always consider if you'd be comfortable telling someone sitting next to you the same information you're posting online.
- Review Your Friends List Periodically: It's a useful exercise to remove those you don't recognize or would prefer not to view your posts.
- Restrict Who Can View Your Friends List and Posts: This privacy setting helps reduce the chances of someone using any information you share for nefarious purposes.
- Restrict Photo Access: Ideally, photos should only be viewable by known friends and approved family members.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and Use Strong, Unique Passwords: This will significantly reduce the chance of someone hijacking your account, even if they manage to guess or crack your password.
Sharing stories with friends, family, and contacts is what makes social media fun and rewarding. However, it's also a potential source of risk. Use social media platforms thoughtfully and mindfully for your own safety and that of those around you.