Social media has increasingly gained popularity in recent years. Today, 57.6% of the global population has joined the craze with an average daily usage of 2 hours 27 minutes. Social media platforms offer great opportunities in building personal brands, reconnecting with old friends, and even job searches. While having an online presence has its benefits, it is also dangerous.
There is a growing concern about social media users’ mental, personal, and digital well-being. It only takes one careless mistake to ruin your life or become an overnight online media sensation. As a result, it is only wise to determine who views the online aspect of your life. You can set your social media accounts private unless you are a politician, social activist, celebrity, or business owner.
Dangers of Social Media
While social media allows you to share your lifestyle with people globally, it also shares your private information. Your name, email address, date of birth, and even area of residence is available to everyone, anywhere. Poor social media account management can lead to:
Identity Theft
Social media platforms are hackers’ hunting grounds. With the available personal information online, cybercriminals are always looking to make a kill. Generally, intruders can commit identity fraud by answering verification questions. This may include your full name, current address, phone number, and date of birth. All this information is readily available on social media profiles, and anyone worldwide can access it.
Equifax data breach is one of the largest identity theft cases that affected 143 million Americans.
Cyberstalking
While cyberstalking may not sound alarming like traditional stalking, it also involves offline and real-time stalking. Cyberstalking is on the rise due to ease of access to information. Unlike the traditional stalking done by people known to victims, cyberstalking is done by total strangers.
Sharing too much on the online profile can reveal your physical address. Anyone can use Google Earth to pinpoint your exact location.
Social Profiling
Social profiling means using information, influence, and interaction on social media platforms to measure a person. Remember that what you post in your social media accounts can cost you your current job or future work opportunities. According to a CareerBuilder survey, up to 70% of employers screen candidates through social media.
It is annoying that an employer may turn you away because of what you post on your social network. Stay in control of who can access it by setting it private. Screen people you don’t know personally. They may be “spies” sent to report your social activities.
Do not overshare your personal information for likes on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Blackmailing
While social media attention gives you the needed dopamine rush, it provides clues for anyone to blackmail you. In this “cancel culture” era, people can use your opinions to publicly shame you. People sometimes use fake names to dig up “dirt” to blackmail or ruin your image.
Unwarranted Searches
According to the U.S courts in the case of Katz vs. the United States, any person who willingly shares information publicly is not protected by the Fourth Amendment. This means that no warrant is required to access your private information.
National security agencies can monitor your information, including search history file transfers, email content, and live chats. All these data are readily available on your social media accounts.
Keep working on Your Cybersecurity Methods
Cybersecurity is an essential aspect of making social media accounts private. Hackers only require small details to access your personal information and commit identity fraud, blackmail, and even stalking. Be careful about what you share and who has access to your social accounts.
At least use long passwords, two-factor authentication, and common sense when using online platforms. Contacts us today for more information on how to manage your social media accounts.
