We live in the digital age, and social media is a large part of it.
Not only has it become arguably the largest platform for socializing and communication, but it’s also one of the main ways we consume media news, entertainment, and other media. We even do business on it now!
But the fact that almost everyone is on it virtually all the time now means that a lot of crime is also done on social media.
And so it has become critical to know how to keep yourself safe online. In this article, we’ll go through the top 10 things you need to do to stay safe and private on social media.
1. Use Strong and Unique Passwords
Your password is your first line of defense against hackers and other cybercriminals.
Most people will simply use a password with easy-to-remember personal details—like their birthday or the name of a loved one. But this is incredibly easy to guess! It’s no wonder that up to 46% of people had their passwords stolen!
Make sure you use a complex password that:
- Is long (around at least 10-12 characters);
- Doesn’t mean anything directly tied to you. Make it long (around at least 10-12 characters);
- Has a mix of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and special symbols.
In fact, many sites will actually require you to create a password that meets the criteria above.
Additionally, never use the same password for all your accounts. Because if one account gets hacked, then all your accounts will probably get hacked too.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can even choose to change your passwords periodically (as often required by online banking websites, for example.)
2. Understand Privacy Settings
The next thing you need to do is to go through your account settings. Go to its privacy or security options and understand what each option does.
These settings allow you to control who can see or interact with your content, send you messages, or even access your personal information. For example, you can choose whether your social media profile will appear in search engines.
Take the time to familiarise yourself with these settings and adjust them to your preference.
Don’t forget to review and update these settings regularly. This is because platform updates can introduce new options or even reset your preferences to default ones without notifying you.
3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication
And one of the most important settings you’ll find is the option to activate two-factor authentication or 2FA (sometimes called 2-layer authentication or 2-factor verification or some variation of it).
With 2FA enabled, logging in will require not just your password but also another form of verification. This is often in the form of inputting a code or one-time password (OTP) sent to the email address or phone number you’ve linked with your account.
It can also be in the form of biometric verification, like fingerprint verification or face ID.
It is essentially a second password, so use it to protect your account even if your main password gets stolen.
4. Be Cautious with Personal Information
Many people believe that being authentic on social media is an admirable thing. But there is a significant difference between being authentic and oversharing!
The excitement of connecting with others or sharing experiences can sometimes lead to posting information that should remain private.
Even discussing sensitive details (like, say, your financial information) on private messages to a trusted friend can be risky—because what if you get hacked?
Even seemingly harmless things, like your pet’s name or your favorite childhood memory, can be to guess security questions. So always think twice before posting and consider how the information could be used if it fell into the wrong hands.
5. Limit Location Sharing
Always using location sharing is one way people overshare, whether intentionally or not.
These check-in indicators, geotagged posts, or live location-sharing features reveal your whereabouts to potential stalkers in real-time. Unfortunately, sometimes users are not even aware that such options are turned on.
So, disable location-sharing features unless you think it’s necessary. And only share it with people you absolutely trust (like family).
If you want to share where you’ve been with your followers, wait a day or two after leaving the area. Doing it immediately after might still allow criminals to track your flight or travel paths.
6. Think Before You Click
If you’ve been on social media long enough, then you’ve likely encountered messages from random accounts asking you to click on a link.
These are phishing scams and clicking on those links will lead you to malicious websites designed to steal sensitive information.
These accounts may pretend to be from legitimate organizations, like banks and government agencies, to fool you into trusting them.
Alternatively, they may try to sound incredibly urgent. For example, they might say that you’ll miss out on money you’ve won or that you’ll face legal action if you don’t click the link by a certain date.
These links may even be out in the open in comments or posts themselves. Hovering over these links will reveal the actual site it leads to, allowing you to double-check its legitimacy.
7. Be Careful with Friend or Follow Requests
Phishing scams and other malicious actions are often performed through fake profiles. And unfortunately, they are incredibly common on social media.
While many of them are bots designed to artificially boost engagement, some of them have an active and sinister person behind them. They may pretend to be an account of legitimate organizations—or even your loved ones.
It’s, therefore, crucial to avoid interacting with them as they may fool or mislead you into giving away private information. So watch out for these signs of a fake profile:
- Generic photos;
- Little to no followers/friends/connections;
- Very recently created.
8. Monitor Third-Party App Permissions
Many social media sites allow third-party apps to integrate with the platform. This is typically for things like:
- Games;
- Quizzes;
- Personality tests;
- Productivity tools.
However, these apps often need permission to access your account information in order to be used.
While these things can undoubtedly be fun or useful, many are malicious programs in hiding. So verify these third-party apps before using them. And if you’ve used some of them before, revoke access to those that you no longer use.
9. Use a VPN for Enhanced Security
You should also consider using a virtual private network (VPN)—especially if you’re out using public Wi-Fi. This is because your data can technically be monitored by anyone on that network.
VPNs encrypt your connection, protecting them from the gaze of others. Even the cheapest monthly VPN will significantly improve your privacy online.
10. Educate Yourself and Others
Lastly, keep educating yourself—as well as others.
Tech is constantly evolving. This means that cybercriminals are also constantly trying to develop new ways of hacking or stealing from people online. So keep yourself updated about the latest cybersecurity news.
Additionally, share what you know with your loved ones. After all, they may share sensitive information about you, your family, or your friends as well.
This is especially true for elderly people, kids, and those who may not be as internet-savvy.
Final Thoughts
The best thing about these safeguards is that they are actually incredibly easy to implement.
Sure, all these extra steps may prove to be a bit of a hassle at first (especially since we’re so used to the instancy of the digital world). But trust me, you’ll get used to them in no time.
And ask yourself: would you rather be safe or sorry?
