This document provides tips on how to protect yourself on social media across several platforms:
1. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest all have default public settings that share your information widely, so you must adjust privacy settings to choose who can see your content and information.
2. To enhance privacy, do not include personal information in profiles, turn off locations, use strong and unique passwords, and regularly delete cookies.
3. Carefully consider who you connect with online, and use blocking and reporting features to manage your friend list.
4. Avoid posting photos or information that you would not want a wide audience to see, as content is difficult to fully remove from the internet once shared.
3. FACEBOOK
MUST SET PERSONAL PRIVACY SETTINGS
“Public” Setting – visible to EVERYONE
Max audience for under 18 – “Friends of Friends”
Still a pretty big group, don’t you think???
You can choose only friends
Even if people aren’t logged into Facebook, you are visible by default
Mobile requires different settings management
You can
Block people
Review tags
Location is optional.
https://www.facebook.com/help/445588775451827
https://www.facebook.com/safety
4. TWITTER
YOUR TWEETS ARE PUBLIC. PERIOD.
You can, however…
Block
Require to approve followers
Location is optional.
https://twitter.com/privacy
5. INSTAGRAM
Photos are public by default.
Option to make photos private only to your followers.
Posting to Facebook is optional.
When you cancel your account, Instagram keeps your photos for
“a commercially reasonable time for backup, archival, and/or audit
purposes.”
Anyone can follow public profiles
Option to approve followers
http://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy/
6. SNAPCHAT
Messages go only to friends you sent them to
(Of course quick screenshots are always a possibility)
Snapchat does not review content
Content is deleted immediately after with no permanent record of
it.
Can set to only receive messages from approved friends
Profile is visible to others, including HISCORE and friends list
Can block and/or delete users
http://www.snapchat.com/static_files/parents.pdf
7. PINTEREST
Boards and pins are public by default
Can create “secret” boards for specific individuals to share
Copies of content that has been repinned by others will remain
even after you delete your account.
Pinterest archived copies of your information.
http://about.pinterest.com/privacy/
9. PRIVACY
LOCATIONS - Turn Off
PASSWORDS
Make it hard to guess
Don’t share it
Consider changing it every 6 months (Keep a record)
Don’t use the same one for everything
NICKNAME - Consider using a nickname whenever possible
CONTACT INFORMATION
Don’t share it – your friends will have your phone number, they don’t need to find it
on social networks.
Never put your address
Use a special EMAIL just for social networks that does not have your name in it.
COOKIES – Delete regularly
ACCOUNT SEPARATION - Consider not linking social networks
together
11. TRUE FRIENDS ONLY
YOU DON’T HAVE TO CONNECT WITH EVERYONE!!
ONLY CONNECT WITH PEOPLE YOU WANT TO CONNECT WITH!
REMEMBER THAT IN MANY CASES YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO:
BLOCK
UNFRIEND
REPORT
KEEP PROFILE PRIVATE
MAKE PROFILE UNSEARCHABLE
DO WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU!
13. DO NOT POST THE FOLLOWING…
Photos that show conduct you wouldn’t want anyone but your
close friends seeing
Photos or posts showing conduct that is illegal, against the law or
unethical
Photos that show any parts of you that aren’t meant to be
exposed in public
Personal information that could tell the public more information
than they need to know (times, locations, plans)
Inappropriate or defamatory language
Negative or hurtful comments
Why? Because they are often said in the heat of anger or sadness, they don’t reflect what
you really mean, they could seriously hurt others, they could damage your reputation, and
they could impact your future.
14. RULE OF THUMB…
If you wouldn’t post it on a
BILLBOARD for your
GRANDMOTHER to see, DON’T post
it online!
The Internet (and friends and future
colleagues and admissions counselors
and bosses) have very long memories.
NOTHING is really private on social
media. Your Digital Footprint stays with
you FOREVER.
15. AND REMEMBER…
Sometimes it is just best to TURN
IT OFF rather than post anything at
all.
If your mind isn’t in the right space,
don’t post anything (you may regret
what you post later, and then it’s
already out there).
16. POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES…
Physical harm
to yourself or someone else
Loss of job
Impact on reputation
Loss of friends
Loss of university acceptance
Criminal investigations
18. FAMILIES CAN BE GREAT
SUPPORT
CONNECT
Stay connected with your family online
SHARE
Be honest about what’s happening on social media
Teenagers, talk with your parents
Parents, talk with your kids
Openness = more trust
Sharing your account information with your family and asking for help with privacy
settings will increase your protection.
FAMILY CONTRACT
Teenagers, let your parents know that you value your privacy and independence
on social networks
Parents, let your kids know that you trust them and simply want to be there when
they need you to help keep them safe.
Define “rules” that address everyone’ needs so the entire family is in agreement
and understands.