Social media is an amazing way to stay connected, from keeping in touch with your family to reuniting with old classmates.
Even though social media has many benefits and brings us all closer, it’s important to use it responsibly. Not everyone on Facebook may be who they seem!
We’ve detailed below tour top tips for staying safe on social media while still having fun.
Keep your account secure
It’s essential to keep your social media passwords safe. Fraudsters can easily access passwords that are short or easy to guess.
Don’t use the same password on different accounts, change your passwords regularly and don’t share them with anyone else.
Check your privacy settings
Most social media platforms let you change your privacy settings so only certain people can view your posts. Instagram and Twitter let you make your account private so only people connected with you can see what you write.
If you’re not sure how to check your privacy settings, ask a friend or family member to look at them for you.
Think before you post
While it’s nice to keep family and friends up to date with everything going on in your life, it’s vital to make sure you don’t put yourself or anyone else at risk.
You may want to show off your holiday photos, but it’s best to wait until you’re back home. Otherwise, you could be advertising to burglars that your house is empty.
Another tactic scammers use is to post a ‘viral’ challenge that ask you to comment the answers to questions like the name of your first pet or your mothers as a rouse to find your ‘movie star name’. However, these are common security questions, and they then use the answers to reset your passwords online.
Take care to avoid giving away too much personal information about yourself and your loved ones.
Be wary of fake friends
Some social media platforms let you connect with people you don’t know in real life. While this can be a great way to meet new friends, be mindful that some people may be out to scam you.
If someone you don’t know messages you and are asking for money or tells you to click on a link you don’t trust, don’t be afraid to block and report them.
Never give away financial information
There is never a good excuse to share financial information on social media. Criminals can use this information to take money out of your bank account or make purchases that you end up paying for.
Don’t share credit card numbers, PINs, or images of your bank cards, even if someone who claims to be acting in an official capacity asks you to. Your bank, or service provider will never contact you first via social media.
Consider friends and loved ones
People use social media in different ways. While some of your friends might be happy to be tagged in your photos, others may feel uncomfortable. Take the time to ask if it’s okay to tag or mention them before posting.
This is especially important when uploading photos of children. Always ask parents or carers if they are okay with you sharing pictures on social media before you start taking snaps.
Know about scams and frauds
As with many things in life, if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
While a free iPhone or Tesco voucher may sound tempting, it’s a shifty ploy to get your personal details. If you get any messages that look suspicious, block them, and move on.
Find out more about avoiding online fraud.
Remember that the internet never forgets
The internet is a public place, and anything you post could potentially be used against you in the future. Even if you delete a post, someone could screenshot it.
Avoid saying anything abusive, offensive, or illegal. If in doubt, take a breather before clicking the ‘post’ button.
