Social media has reinvented the way we interact with, and look at, the internet.
For all the good that it brings, though, there are huge privacy concerns that we just cannot look away from. If not for any other reason, the many scandals of Facebook – the current mother of all social media networks out there today – make it impossible to look away anymore.
If, like us, you value your privacy above all others, here are some things to do today.
Tip #1 – Limit Personal Information
You can use social media without releasing all of that personal information in your bio.
Things like your birthday, location/ address, school, siblings, and such other information can be skipped. Chances are your close family and friends know that information already, so there is no need to tell total strangers on the internet too.
Tip #2 – Beware of what you share
People can either actively or passively share overly sensitive information online.
In the active sense, think about uploading a picture of your exact location at every point in time. This might aid a stalker to find you and follow you around everywhere.
On the passive side, you might be out with a friend, take a picture of your table and forget to blur out your credit card details. Or, you could simply share a picture at home, forgetting that you are close to a landmark that makes it easier to identify your home.
Tip #3 – Make your photos private
Facebook does this cute little thing where it helps you to identify the numerous faces in a group picture so that you can tag them easily.
Well, it’s all cute until you learn that they do that with the aid of the facial recognition AI which you did not expressly sign up for.
Even if Facebook were not playing such dirty tricks, your picture still tells a lot about you. The meta-information could tell what kind of device you took the picture on, what your location is, and much more.
That is why you should make your photos more private on social media lest they fall in the wrong hands. Some of the best approaches include:
- Making your account private
- Not uploading personal photos at all
- Removing metadata from photos, etc.
Tip #4 – Go Private
Sometimes, you just have to go private.
This allows you to enjoy all the best of social media without suffering too much from the bad side.
Now, only those that you have granted access can see your pictures, follow your updates and interact with your content. It also gives you a better handle on things if you ever had to investigate a leak or some other relevant situation.
How safe are you?
This is a question that most people cannot answer until it is too late.
If you are here today, you don’t have to wait till it’s too late anymore. Take charge right now and secure your social media accounts better. Share this guide with family and friends so that they get the best out of it also.