HOW TO Be Safe On Social Media?Securely Use And Enhance Your Social Media Experience
The hike in the use of social networking sites makes them the perfect platform for initiating scams. So, how to be safe on social media? Today, we are going to answer this question.
The popularity of social media platforms has increased amongst teens as well as adults. It is because the platforms give you the ability to socialize with family and friends, sharing photos, videos, and events of interest. It can also be used professionally by business organizations.
With all these benefits, come the risks such as cyberbullying, hacking, stalking, and identity theft. So, how can you keep yourself safe on social media? What are the dangers of social media? One should take precautions while using social networking sites, and here are some social media safety tips for students:
A. Using Strong And Unique Password:
Using a strong, long, and unique password, which is unpredictable, makes the password difficult to crack, providing security to your account. Also, make sure that you use different passwords for different accounts. So, in case if one of your accounts gets compromised, then your other accounts will be safe.
B. Don’t Share Too Much:
Always avoid sharing personal details on the social media platform. Sharing details like place of birth, home address, phone number, etc. may put your safety at risk and can make you a victim of identity theft. Additionally, avoid sharing your location details too. Posting your current location to brag in front of people about your visit to the hottest new bar or a five-star restaurant can prove to be fatal for you. The scammers and hackers can take advantage of this information and can make you a victim of their fraudulent activity.
C. Make Adjustments In Privacy And Security Settings:
All social networking sites allow you to make some privacy settings. But, most users think that the default privacy settings are sufficient and never alter. It will be useful if you change the privacy settings to block the unknown users from viewing private information shared by you on the site. In addition to this, changing security settings to two-factor verification would be helpful. The site will send you a text message on your phone whenever you log-in to confirm your identity.
D. Be Cautious While Sharing Work History:
While using platforms like LinkedIn, people post their resumes, personal information, and work history. If such information gets in the hands of a hacker, you can become a victim of fraud and identity theft. So be cautious while sharing such information on any social networking sites.
E. Verify And Then Connect:
Many times, there are instances of friend requests from false accounts. If you are uncertain about the legitimacy of your friend’s account, it is better to confirm it with the individual itself. Adversaries make use of fake accounts and attempt to misrepresent themselves as an authentic person to initiate any malicious or fraudulent activity. So, firstly verify and then connect to a particular account.
F. Think Before You Click:
Social media accounts get hacked regularly nowadays. So before clicking any link sent by your friend, check the language and content first. There are chances that your friend’s account has been hacked and used by criminals to defraud you. Clicking on quizzes and games can also be fatal. These quizzes and games can use your profile information and friends list to create a new target list for spammers. So always think twice before you click.You can check it here.
Final Words
Social media platforms are a great place to stay in touch with your friends and family. But, you want to share your life memories with your loved ones and not with the spammers, adversaries, criminals, and stalkers. So, the answer to your question, how to be safe in social media, is by following the above-discussed simple tips.
