Social Media Security: Protecting Your Personal Information

Social media has become an integral part of daily life. It’s arguably now the main way we communicate with loved ones, get our news, and even entertain ourselves.

However, this also means that a lot of crime is now also done online. Nefarious people are now on the prowl on social media platforms, trying to scam you or steal your data (and consequently even your money!)

So in this article, we’ll go through 8 things you should be doing to protect your information on social media.

The Importance of Social Media Security

Social media is all about sharing. We share our experiences, opinions, and sometimes even personal details. But oversharing can be incredibly risky.

Personal information such as your full name, date of birth, and location—and yes, even your likes and comments—can be used by scammers, hackers, blackmailers, and identity thieves against you. 

Or, at the very least, they’ll use it to create fake profiles or execute phishing scams under your name (which can still land you in trouble).

But it’s not only private individuals who are at risk. Businesses are, too, especially since digital marketing is now such a big part of running a business. Getting breached can lead to reputation damage and financial losses—if not absolute ruin.

Best Practices for Protecting Your Personal Information

So, what should you do to protect yourself on social media? Here are 8 practices everyone must do to stay safe online.

1. Use Strong and Unique Passwords

The password to your account is your first line of defense. Unfortunately, many people use passwords that can be easily guessed. Even businesses aren’t immune: 80% of organizational breaches are due to weak passwords.

So don’t use short passwords that include personal details like:

• Name/Organization’s name;
• Birthday;
• Relatives’ name;
• Pets’ name;
• Past school;
• Favorite hobby.

Don’t use these details. Your password should be at least 12 characters long and a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. In fact, many websites now require that when creating an account. 

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) 

If your password is your first line of defense, then 2FA is your second. It’s quite literally a secondary password!

2FA is a security mechanism in which you will be required to verify your identity through a secondary method. Most commonly, you will be required to enter a code or one-time password (OTP) sent to your mobile number or email account. 

Third-party authentication apps such as Google Authenticator are also a solid option. So, even if your primary password gets compromised, your account will still stay safe.

Most social media platforms will have the option to enable 2FA.

3. Review and Adjust Privacy Settings 

Social media platforms offer privacy settings that allow you to control who can see and interact with your profile, posts, and personal information. You can even make it so that searching your name on search engines won’t bring up your social media profiles.

Unless you’re running a public business account, it’s highly recommended to limit your post visibility to trusted friends and connections.

Even then, be wary of the information you include and post it to your profile. Never share things like your:

• Phone number;
• Home address;
• Current location on trips (you can share them after you’ve left the place);
• Financial information.
  

4. Be Wary of Suspicious Links and Messages 

As a rule of thumb, never click on links in messages, comments, and posts from accounts you don’t know or trust.

There’s a good chance these are fraudulent links that aim to trick you into giving away sensitive info or even downloading malware.

Always verify the account that posted the link first, and if you think it’s a malicious link, report it.

5. Keep Your Devices, Software, and Apps Updated 

These updates often include security patches that improve protection against hackers and malware. So always keep them updated to ensure you’re using the latest, most secure versions. If it’s available as a setting, enable automatic updates.

6. Limit Third-Party App Access 

Many social media platforms allow you to connect to third-party apps or services for surveys, quizzes, and games.

While these can be convenient and fun, it also increases your exposure to potential danger. Make sure to disable these permissions for services you no longer use.

7. Use a VPN for Extra Security 

Did you know that connecting to public Wi-Fi means that everyone on that network can technically see everything you’re doing with the connection?

So, if you’re going out and connecting to public Wi-Fi, make sure to use VPNs. These programs encrypt your data, making it much more difficult for other parties to access it.

If you don’t know what VPNs are, you can click here for an information source.

8. Stay Updated About Cybersecurity

Tech is constantly evolving—but this means so too are digital hackers and scammers.

Keep yourself updated about the latest developments in digital privacy so you can keep yourself protected.

And, of course, share your knowledge with your loved ones!

Conclusion

Social media is absolutely amazing for connection and self-expression. But to make the most out of social media, we also need to stay safe. 

So what are you waiting for? I bet your password isn’t as strong as it should be, so go change it now! (And do the other things, too, while you’re at it.)