Things you can do to keep your identity safe on social media
In a hyperconnected era, many people are now posting most of their activities on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Because of too much identity exposure on public platforms, cases of identity theft and stalking have been prevalent in recent years.
While social media is an inextricable part of our daily lives, it’s important that as a user, you know how to responsibly handle your accounts and ensure that you’re not revealing too much to your followers. So, if you’re curious to know more about keeping your identity safe, here are some of the things you should know.
Don’t tag your location in your IG posts
Tagging your location in your posts on IG or Facebook are hazardous, especially if someone unscrupulous is following you on your social media. In the United States, a couple was robbed of their possessions while they were on vacation. According to the intel reports, the robbers, who lived in the same neighbourhood, checked if there was someone in the house through the Facebook posts of the couple. Upon knowing that they weren’t in the house, the burglars broke in and took away all the valuables.
If you want to post a picture, make sure you don’t provide the details of your location or address. This can be easily used by people with bad intentions to hurt your identity.
Use a strong password
When you’re making an account across social media platforms, it’s important that you use a good password to keep your personal accounts safe. Don’t use characters that are easy to guess or names that can be easily cracked by hackers. When making a password for your account, make sure you use names that can’t be attributed to you.
Use a 2FA for your social media accounts
When making accounts on social media, it’s best that you use a 2FA to increase the safety of your accounts. This will help you track if your account is being accessed on different locations or opened in a browser you don’t know.
Don’t post your personal address or work address
Cases of stalking in several parts of the world have grown alarmingly fast and some of these stalkers use social media to stalk their victims. Even if you don’t have a stalker, you should always be wary of tagging sensitive information in your posts like your address or real-time location. If someone is preying on you, they can easily track you down when they browse your account.
Keep your account private
Having a lot of followers is tempting, especially if you want to establish yourself as a media influencer. While having a ton of followers is an exciting prospect, always remember that keeping your identity safe is your topmost priority.