Your privacy and social media

Social media can be a great way to connect with friends, family and others in your community. Here are five ways that you can protect your privacy on social media platforms:

1. Know what data is being collected and why

Before using a social media platform, be sure that you understand what personal information the platform will collect, and how it will use and share your personal data. You can often find this information in the platform’s privacy policy. Keep in mind that most “free” apps and online services generate revenue by collecting (and in some cases reselling) users’ personal information for marketing or other purposes.

2. Choose your passwords carefully

Protect each of your social media accounts with a strong and unique password. See our tips for creating and managing your passwords for best practices to secure your accounts. 

3. Adjust privacy settings

Take control of your privacy by adjusting the privacy settings on your social media accounts. You can limit things like location tracking, personalized ads and who can see your personal information. See our tips for using privacy settings.

4. Think before you post

Think carefully about your photos, comments, messages and videos before you post them. Consider how it might impact your reputation if they are seen, for example, by a potential employer, or how you might feel if they were shared with another company.

When you post about friends or family, or tag them in images, be considerate and get their consent before you share their photos or other personal information online. Parents should also set a good example and respect their children’s personal information. It may be tempting to post funny back-to-school pictures, but remember that online content can be copied, shared and difficult to delete.

5. Limit identifying details and don’t share your location

 Sharing too much personal information can leave you vulnerable to crimes such as identity fraud, theft, stalking or harassment. For example, posting pictures while overseas can let would-be burglars know when you are not at home. See our 5 tips to protect your privacy online.