Staying Safe on Social Media: 6 Top Tips
Whether you use it to keep up with friends or you’ve made a career out of it, social media can be a valuable resource. However, social media platforms can be dangerous places if you don’t protect yourself. Here are six tips to keep you safe on social media.
1. Keep a close eye on photos
The impulse to immediately post a cute selfie or a funny cat video is difficult to ignore, but it’s important to be vigilant about what you post. People have been caught out by inadvertently posting credit cards, number plates and other private information on their social media, allowing criminals to use this information to steal their money or identity.
You should also be wary about publicly posting photos that give clues to where you live – such as the exterior of your house or distinct landmarks visible through a window – as anyone could see them. Additionally, be careful about posting when you’re on holiday, as this tells the world that your home is vacant.
2. Check your privacy settings
You might think that only your friends can see your posts, but without the right privacy settings, anyone can see them. Make sure that you know who can see your content – you might post very differently if you knew that your boss could see it!
3. Use parental controls
Nobody loves social media more than teenagers, but they are one of the most vulnerable groups. As a parent or guardian, you can help keep your child safe by utilising available parental controls, which allow you to monitor their account and block certain features.
4. Be mindful of messages
Most platforms help you to filter out suspicious messages, but some may still slip through the net. Be wary of anyone asking for money or personal details, and never click a link from someone you don’t know. Other people may also hack your friend’s accounts and use them to send you messages, so it’s important to be careful no matter where the message appears to come from.
5. Turn off location sharing
Some platforms access your location and post this alongside your content. Letting people know where you are isn’t always safe, especially if your account is public. If you really want to tag a location, it’s a good idea to wait until you have left.
6. Use that block button
When someone is harassing or upsetting you, your best defence is to block them. It’s far too easy to get sucked into a debate online, but things can escalate into dangerous territory. Blocking people prevents them from seeing your content or contacting you, keeping them far away from your online presence. You can also report accounts that breach the guidelines of social media platforms, preventing them from doing the same thing to other people.
Anonymously report crime
If you’ve seen something illegal, whether it’s on social media or in real life, you can report it without revealing your identity. The Crime Stoppers Bermuda phone line and online form are there to collect your report without any identifying details.
Call 800-8477 or use our online form to report anonymously.
