Let’s Talk- Social Media Safety
We live in an age of all things smartphone apps and social media We share details of our everyday lives with people that we may not know; because, if we are honest, every friend accepted isn’t someone we know personally. The world, business, workforce- is global and so, technology and social media keep us all connected to one another. Because this is the way of the world, it’s smart to teach your family how to keep their info and identities private.
Here are some ways to stay safe:
Privacy
Privacy Preferences– consistently checking privacy settings on social media sites is good practice. This ensures they’re set so only the people you want to see your posts can do so.
Passwords– change the passwords you use for your social media accounts frequently, and try not to use the same password for each account.
Digital Security– setting up two-factor authentication on social media accounts and email is a good idea. Also, installing an adblocking extension in the browser to keep pop-ups and ads from loading malware onto your computer is good practice.
Screen time– many social media platforms require users to be 13 years old before they can register, so, monitoring how much and what ways kids are using social media is important.
Status/Posts
Social media use is an important part of the information that ends up online, so using with discretion is important and can be done by following these tips.
Online Identity– Use account preferences to control the information visible to the public and what can only be seen privately.
Chatting/Instant Messages– have you met this person in person? If not, use caution when chatting online, and make sure the kids are protected by monitoring their online interactions.
Photos– share safely. Only the photos that a boss, parent, or child would be ok seeing. Even if photos are deleted, they are usually permanently discoverable online.
Safety
Don’t share personal email addresses, this makes it hard for businesses or advertisers to scan the address book.
If using LinkedIn, open a new email account for professional correspondence only. This prevents connecting personal identity with the professional one.
Be selective when accepting a connection request, be careful with what is shared. Consider keeping new connections on limited profile, as Facebook allows
Block bots to keep them from obtaining information for scamming or advertising purposes.
Be educated on phishing scams and stay away from them on social media.
Identity Theft
Identity theft protection coverage protects individuals from damage caused by identity theft. Identity theft by way of social media saw 164.7 million cases in 2019. Using these tips will go a long way and for more protection, an insurance agent can always help.
