Whether it’s photos with oversaturated, location-based, or self-destructing filters, social media has allowed us to connect with family and friends with a simple click, tap, or swipe. Despite its benefits, social media can also be easily used to harm people. According to the website thinkbiganalytics.com, this is why there are a lot of people who hate social media. Still, if you can stay safe on social media, you can minimize the potential risks involved in it. Is it true that these apps have left us defenseless when it comes to our safety? Here, I wrote several risks involved with social media that you should be more aware of.
Getting Addicted
Social media has become (rightly or wrongly) an important part of our planet, with a plethora of electronic platforms inviting us to broadcast all parts of our lives. But are we sharing our personal stories too much? Does submitting a photo before getting a pass at the airport increase the risk of being robbed on vacation? And what about reputation: in the last couple of years we’ve seen countless stories in the media, not only of actors but also of ordinary people who have lost their jobs after submitting something seemingly innocent on sites like Twitter. So, to cope with this issue, the best way is to don’t feel pressured to post more than you’re comfortable with.
Personal Information Leak
Going deeper into the things we post, you must keep your information private. Sharing things like your phone number, residence, or email address could increase the risk of identity theft, spam, and your overall security. Simple things like tagging friends and locations in your photos can help you build a profile as you travel from place to place. Even seemingly innocent things can have an impact. For example, during the 2015 Melbourne Cup, a lucky player took home a selfie with her winning ticket, only to have it redeemed by a supposed friend who saw it on social media. Take it away. You should never risk your life by posting it on social media because it could cost you in the real world.
Getting Hijacked
Although it’s something that has been around for many decades, we often don’t think about getting our password for at least a few moments. However, it is this collection of numbers, symbols, and digits that acts as the main barrier to prevent hackers from getting into your account. Not only do you have a long and correct password, but it’s also important to get a different code for each website you access. Programs like LastPass and 1Password are great for securely storing and managing the many passwords that are created over time. Hence, it’s essential to protect your social media account from a hacker who wants to steal your data.
Bad Consent and Cyberbullying
It is equally important to be aware of when posting photos of others. Social media can thrive and promote the idea of sharing, but that doesn’t mean it’s always right. Instead, it is critical to think about whether a picture or video with another person can be considered a discoloration or a disgrace to the person’s reputation. Your posts or comments may hurt other people’s hearts. It’s one of the factors of cyberbullying. Before posting your stories, tweets, or posts, you should think about who might see it, and either it will hurt other people or offense others.
