Staying Safe on Social Media

Once something is on the internet, it can be there for a very long time, and can be difficult to take down. You may give out too much private information without realizing it, so it’s important to know the dangers of oversharing and how to stop yourself from doing it.

When you post anything on your social media channels, consider who can see it. Assume that your post will be seen by four different kinds of people:

1. your best friends
2. your worst enemy
3. your teacher or your boss
4. your parents/ caregivers

If you don’t want one or more of these people to see it, it may be best not to post anything at all.

Some things you might want to take down or make private are:

• photos, videos, posts, or comments that seem unfair or inappropriate
• posts that include drinking or substance use
• complaints about previous jobs or school
• any personal information that might include passwords, combinations or information that shows where you live
• any post that might be considered mean or unpleasant

Things to keep public include:

• content that shows you off professionally
• content that shows your interests (as appropriate)
• content that shows you have great communication skills

There are more ways to change up your social media to make sure you don’t give out too much personal information publicly. One way is to unfollow or unfriend people you don’t know. It can be very dangerous to add someone you don’t know, even if it raises your follower or friend count. Strangers can get access to your personal information that may put your safety at risk.

Remember that information can be there for a very long time. This includes private and direct messages. Be careful before you start sexting or sending intimate images of yourself even when you may think it’s private.

At the end of the day, it’s best to think twice before posting. Think about who else may see your post and how you may feel about it. The internet isn’t as private as we wish it could be, so it’s important to be safe where we can.