Social media allows us to easily connect and share updates, photos, achievements, events, and more with friends, family, and even the public. However, oversharing or posting certain types of sensitive content can be risky and have negative consequences. When using social platforms, it’s important to be aware of things you should avoid making public.
Personal and Financial Information
Avoid sharing sensitive personal and financial information which could enable identity theft or allow someone to access your existing accounts. For example, never post your full birthdate, social security number, bank account details, credit card numbers, or other sensitive credentials.
Even something as simple as a pet’s name could be used as a password recovery question to compromise an account. Keep personal data off social profiles and out of posts to limit exposure.
Home Address and Phone Numbers
Your home address and phone numbers can allow unwanted intrusions into your privacy or safety if made public through social media sharing. Keep home addresses private to avoid becoming a target or enabling harassment. Posting phone numbers also opens the door to endless sales calls, spam text messages or calls, and potential phone hacks.
Set up social profiles using separate email addresses and consider using a P.O. box where addresses are required.
Confidential Work Information
As an employee, you may have access to company data, upcoming announcements, financial results or plans that are confidential. Sharing such privileged company information publicly on social sites could be illegal and result in termination.
Protect trade secrets and remember that what you post even on personal pages still reflects on your employer. If in doubt, don’t share work details without explicit permission.
Travel Plans and Check-In Locations
While posting exciting updates of adventures from vacations or nights out can be tempting, avoid sharing current locations or future travel plans publicly. Doing so alerts potential thieves that your home will be empty and vulnerable to break-ins.
Oversharing locations also eliminates any secure anonymity when you socialize in public settings with friends. Keep check-ins and location tags limited to share-worthy moments after already returning safely rather than during events.
Children’s Information
As a parent, be very cautious about exposing sensitive information about your underage children across your personal social media profiles. It's wise to avoid public posts displaying their names, ages, schools attended, dates of birth, photos showing school uniforms or landmarks near home, or identifiers that could lead to identity theft or allow targeting by predators.
Pictures showing your children's faces should have privacy settings to limit visibility. Regularly check all social settings and posts involving your kids to ensure their safety and security.
Conclusion
By being alert to the types of information that have privacy, security and safety implications if made public online, you can responsibly enjoy social platforms. Use discretion when posting and take advantage of tools like audience selectors, access controls and temporary sharing as needed.
Think carefully before sharing anything with sensitive details that could compromise you, loved ones or employers if in the wrong hands. Limit overexposure and you’ll avoid many preventable social media risks.