Whether it’s photos with oversaturated filters, location-based logs, or self-destructing images, social media has allowed us to connect with family and friends with a simple click, swipe, or tap. But while many people have been taught not to talk to strangers, i.e. always wear a helmet and don’t use tinfoil in the microwave, the same can’t necessarily be said for social media. However, according to a poll conducted on Twitter published by thinkbiganalytics.com, it stated that there are over 350,000 geotags on Twitter that saying that they hate social media. The reasons vary, but mostly for the awareness of cyberbullying and private data leaks. Here I’ve put together a comprehensive guide on the best way to stay safe when it comes to social websites.
Protect Yourself Both in Online and The Real World
Although you may think that photos and videos shared through Snapchat are temporary, this is not necessarily true. No one can stop other people to take a screenshot of your posts. For this reason, we suggest that you only send things that you would like Grandma to see. Also, when it comes to online dating apps, it’s also essential to protect yourself both online and in the real world by making sure that the person is not trying to harm you. When chatting with a potential partner, do not provide personal information such as address or place of work.
Open Communication to Minimize Cyberbullying
Sure, social media is beneficial for staying in touch with friends, but it’s also a place where cyberbullying is common, especially among children. The best way to minimize cyberbullying is to open your communication with your children or your friend and start monitoring their social media activity. There are a whole host of helpful resources online, starting with the eSafety Commissioner’s website. They can help you cope with this issue as they have a lot of professionals ready to help. However, if you get frustrated browsing social media, it may be a great idea to go offline and look at the real world for a while.
Learn to Keep Your Account Private
When you sign up for Facebook, you have to choose whether you want your accounts to be private or public. A public account means that your entire profile (such as photos and status updates) will likely be visible to everyone. A personal profile can only be viewed with approved friends. You can change it at any time on the Private Settings page. If there’s a message you don’t want certain people to see, you can limit their visibility to a select number.
