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Are You Safe on Social Media?

Technology Advice Contributed by the Fairview Technology Advisory Committee

Image of a frame for a social media post surrounded by emojis and hash tags

Everyone should educate themselves on the benefits and risks associated with social media. Connecting and engaging safely on social media requires vigilance. The following are best practices recommended by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and other cybersecurity experts:

  1. Think before you post: Ask the questions, “Am I comfortable sharing such information? Does this posting create risk now or down the road?” No matter how quickly you delete a post or picture, it’s likely someone saw it. Everyone should understand the importance of owning their digital lives so they can avoid putting themselves or others in a bad situation.
  1. Turn off location/geotagging features: Many social media platforms allow users to keep their location hidden. It may be fun to “check-in” and show where you’re visiting, but you’re telling people where to find you and that you aren’t home. Always know if you’re sharing location information and with whom you’re sharing it.
  1. Connect with people you trust: Some social media platforms may seem safer because of limited personal information shared. However, you should keep your connections limited to people you know and trust. Many platforms have privacy settings that allow users to limit what content others can see.
  1. Verify before you click: Don’t click on suspicious links or files, or respond to messages asking for money or personal information. Even if the message looks like it’s from a friend or family member, their account may have been hacked. Call them to check. Before buying something, research the company. Search their name online along with words like “scam” or “complaint.”
  1. Speak up if you’re uncomfortable: If a friend posts something about you that makes you uncomfortable or you think is inappropriate, let them know. Likewise, you should stay openminded if a friend approaches you about something you posted. Children should report any instances of cyberbullying. 
  1. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) and check your account settings: MFA requires anyone logging into an account to prove their identity multiple ways (e.g. username, password, one-time verification code). Check your account settings on each social media platform to determine what access permissions you want to allow or restrict.

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