How to Stay Safe on Social Media
As digital natives, the younger people who grew up with technology have a natural fearlessness when using it that older adults often envy. In many cases, that fearlessness is an advantage. However, too much comfort isn’t helpful in security matters. Here, being wary and thinking twice about how to stay safe on social media as you use the various social media platforms increases the odds that you’ll navigate the online world safely. Following tips like these can also help.
Use Strong Passwords
A short, simple password might seem like it will make your life easy, but consider how much trouble you’ll have to sort out if someone with bad intentions guesses or hacks that weak password, takes over your account, and uses it for rotten purposes. Typing in a strong password that is at least eight characters and contains a mix of letters and numbers may take a little more effort, but it keeps your accounts safer and can prevent future hassles.
Use Strong Privacy Settings
Every social media platform offers privacy settings that determine who can see what you post. You should always check that at least your private phone number, email address, and full birthdate are hidden from public view. Leaving them available could leave you at risk of identity theft or raise your risk of fraud attempts. As Experian points out, many platforms will allow you to decide whether some or all of what you post is visible to only your chosen friends or the general public. It’s worth reviewing your options. It’s also smart to check back periodically to verify that settings haven’t been disturbed by updates.
Be Selective About What You Share
When chatting on social media, it’s easy to forget that your audience may be wider than you’re expecting. It’s also important to remember that things posted online never really go away. That’s why it’s essential to be selective about what you choose to share. Revealing bits of personal information about your life may seem harmless, but it could put your family or home at risk. Be careful not to give away your location or your daily routine. Don’t advertise plans to travel or let people know when you’re on the road. If you do, you’re pointing out that your home is empty. For similar reasons, you don’t want to confirm personal information that can be used in identity theft, like full birthdates or place of birth. Norton360 advises that you should also never share your Social Security number, credit card number, banking information, or passwords on social media.
Be Selective About Who You Interact With
Much of the fun of using social media is interacting with other people, and seeing your friend or follower count soar is certainly flattering. However, there are excellent reasons to keep that number in check. When untrustworthy sources gain access to your accounts by following you, they can use that access to try and scam you or your family and friends or flood you with annoying or treacherous spam. To limit your risk, don’t accept requests from users that you don’t know that have these common red flags:
- Accounts with little or no information
- Accounts with few friends
- Accounts that pressure you with messages
- Accounts that misuse language or are poorly written
- Accounts that make promises, ask for things, or send links
Social media can be a fantastic resource and a lot of fun, but it’s like any other tool. Learning to use it safely is important. Fortunately, once you’ve mastered the basics, staying safe on social media is largely a matter of paying attention. At Waterstone on Augusta, we know that staying connected helps people thrive. That’s why we support the residents of our senior living community by offering a wide range of programs and services designed to foster interests and connections.