Social media is a fantastic way to connect, providing endless opportunities to individuals and businesses on a global scale. But as with all such powerful technologies, there is also a downside. How do you maintain your privacy on social media?
We’ve all been there. You make some thoughtless quip on Twitter, only to learn that the exact person you wouldn’t want to see it, did see it. Then horror sets in while you try to decide if you should delete it immediately and act innocent, or respond with a quick “lol j/k” and hope for the best. It’s basically the wooooorst.
Let us save you from yourself with this major piece of advice about your social media privacy:
Always assume the things you post are public forever!
There, we said it. Now, the more realistic solution for avoiding embarrassing social media faux pas is to check your settings on EVERY social media profile, first when you initially set it up, and again periodically when there is an update.
Every social media site will have its own settings and preferences. The tricky part is finding them. They move frequently. When new features are added during updates, the settings will default to be as wide open as possible, which leaves your data exposed to the public.
Here are the major five questions you should ask yourself, and the settings to adjust:
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Who sees my profile, posts, pictures, and location?
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What is being shared to third parties?
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Which apps am I allowing to access my data?
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What are my friends able to share about me?
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What site integrations are included?
Facebook example:
Click on the options on the left sidebar to adjust each setting individually to your preferences.
IMPORTANT: Don’t neglect to change the settings under Apps as well.
Twitter example:
Click on the options on the left sidebar to adjust each setting individually to your preferences.
External applications, games, and various sites often require full access to your social media account. This includes posts, photos, and even information about your friends. Of course, this is included in the fine print when you choose to download the apps, so it’s best to think twice before allowing access. Do you really need that integration? Really?
Ultimately, you are your own worst enemy when it comes to revealing too much about yourself. Always consider the potential consequences, and always remember (yes, we’re repeating it), to assume the things you post are public forever!
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