Social media is the go-to place for everyone and every day. It is also the highest place with scams happening. You could be a person on social media or a whole business, but being online is a risk for all.
Social media is also filled with false promises and even though its creators take security measures, it does not mean everyone is safe from the socials.
So what must be done and how can you as an individual prevent the harm on socials for yourself, your family, and your friends?
Follow the simple 7 steps and you can prevent harm to yourself and others too.
1.Share Limited Information
Everyone is very well aware of the negative impact caused by social media on your personal information. One of the most important aspects of staying safe on social media is to limit what you post on your social media platforms, like Instagram, Facebook, etc.
You should be careful what you are showing to the public online since it can be used against you in so many ways. Avoid sharing your personal information like your phone number, address, and financial information.
Your little piece of information that might look unimportant to you can attract hackers to use it against you. To avoid alerting criminals, avoid posting your real-time events like vacationing.
2.Use a Secured Wi-Fi Network
Most of the hacking is done while using the public internet, be it a café, airport, or mall. You should always use a secured Wi-Fi network (a password-protected network) to avoid these security issues. The best solution to this is availing a provider that has maximum security in the back and also encrypts data.
For this reason, I have come to trust Xfinity for its advanced Wi-Fi solutions with the Xfinity gateway. Plus, they have all-around 24/7 support whether you’re an English speaker or a Spanish speaker. They even have a separate line of contact for the Spanish speakers through Xfinity servicio al cliente en español. This also lets you feel at ease as you have a strong network to rely on.
But when you’re out, the VPN helps users to protect their information by encrypting their data so it is better to use a public network while being connected to a VPN. Also, avoid using sensitive apps on public networks like banking or scrolling your social media feed.
3.Review Your Privacy Settings
While setting up your social media account, the first thing you should do is review your privacy settings. Every social media application has a privacy control feature through which you can limit your personal information only to those whom you trust. Always avoid posting your personal information in public since it can cause a security risk.
Make your profile private and inaccessible to unknown people and limit your information to only your friends and family. Since privacy policies get updated frequently, it is important to review them religiously so that you can maintain your profile privacy.
4.Report Abusive Behavior and Inappropriate Content
The most common yet neglected topics on social media are bullying and harassment. No one on social media is fully safe from online abuse. The most essential step after seeing someone getting cyberbullied is to report them.
You should avoid engaging with people who are a part of bullying and should block and report them. Even though there are so many policies against harassment and bullying on every social media platform but still a lot of cases go unseen. Reporting this toxic environment and abusive behavior will create a safer social media environment.
If you are worried about your identity getting leaked for reporting a bully, then you should be aware that all the reports are submitted anonymously making it easier for everyone to report without any fear.
A tip for you all is to save the evidence of bullying or harassment if you can so that your case doesn’t go unheard. Facebook and Instagram also have a “Download Your Information” feature through which people can gather evidence.
5.Use the Geolocation Feature Wisely
Always keeping your location on might not sound like a serious problem but it could cause some serious safety issues. In many smartphones, there’s an integrated geolocation feature that allows tagging the exact location on your photos which can be a safety risk.
You should always turn off your location services for social media platforms unless it is important to turn it on. You can change these settings through the app settings option on your phone. Be cautious when allowing apps for location service and avoid revealing your exact location in public.
6.Think Thoroughly Before Posting
Never let your impulsive thoughts win while posting on social media as it may have negative consequences. You should always consider the safe and respectful content to post on social media. Posting without thinking can destroy your reputation and may violate your confidentiality.
There are ways through which your deleted content can also be retrieved making it more harmful for people who mistakenly posted something they shouldn’t have. Impulsive posting can cost people their privacy and safety.
Be careful what you post on social media, and always think whether the post is safe enough to show publicly without revealing your personal information before posting.
7.Beware of Third Party Applications
Third-party applications are always a serious threat to your personal information. This app can request access to your personal information that could reveal all of your information. Many people allow these third-party apps to gain access to the information without knowing what they are asking for only to make the app function.
Always review the app before installing and only authorize them if you are that they are from a trusted source. Following this routine will reduce security risk on social media platforms and will give you peace of mind.