How can social media users protect their data privacy?

Social media platforms are a great way to connect with friends, family, and communities, but they also pose some risks to your personal information and online security. Data breaches, hackers, and malicious actors can exploit your data for various purposes, such as identity theft, fraud, or targeted ads. To prevent these threats and safeguard your privacy, you need to take some proactive steps and adopt some best practices when using social media. Here are some tips to help you protect your data privacy on social media.

1 Check your privacy settings

One of the first things you should do is review your privacy settings on each social media platform you use. You can control who can see your posts, profile, and personal details, as well as what information you share with third-party apps and websites. You can also limit the access of advertisers and data brokers to your online activities and preferences. Make sure you understand the implications of each setting and adjust them according to your comfort level and needs.

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DIANA ROSE CABIGAO

10+ yrs Graphic Designer | Adobe & Canva Expert
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Checking your privacy settings is the best way yet the most ignored. People are sometimes to complacent on their default privacy settings. As the saying goes " ignorance of the law excuses no one" the same way with not knowing what to check on your privacy settings does not excuse you from yhe possible harm you'll have in the future

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Kayla Knowles

★ Marketing Communications Manager at Syniti ★ Brand Management ★ Social Media ★ Employee Advocacy ★
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Data privacy in social media is a topic that while it comes up often, many people just don't know enough about it! Whether you're working in social media or you're just a casual user, it's equally important to make it a regular habit to review your privacy settings on all social media platforms. Do you know who is able to view your profile? Are you allowing a lot of random apps access to your profiles? Do you know who is tracking your activity? I'll venture to say, it's about time to review your privacy settings not just here on LinkedIn, but on all your social platforms as well!

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2 Use strong passwords

Another essential step is to use strong and unique passwords for each social media account you have. A strong password is one that is long, complex, and random, and that does not contain any personal or common information. A unique password is one that you do not use for any other account or service. This way, you can prevent hackers from guessing or cracking your passwords and accessing your data. You can also use a password manager to generate and store your passwords securely.

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Kayla Knowles

★ Marketing Communications Manager at Syniti ★ Brand Management ★ Social Media ★ Employee Advocacy ★
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Using strong passwords is like putting on your superhero suit for social media. Peter Parker is just Peter Parker but when he puts on the Spiderman suit, he can fight off the Green Goblin and Venom. With a strong password, you can fight off the cyber villains too. Just never let them know your next move (aka - use a unique password, not just for each social media site but for all sites you have logins for). While not required, a password manager is a great tool to help with this. I personally use LastPass which has a password generator which I use to generate a unique password for each new login. Their security feature lets me know if I have any duplicate or unsecured passwords that need updating.

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Francisco Orozco

Aportando Ciberseguridad a la Transformación Digital
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Configurar tu configuración privacidad, principalmente quien puede tu información personal y lo que publicas es de los principales aspectos a cuidar, se recomienda ampliar esta revisión de configuración familiares principalmente a menores de edad que son los mas expuestos es algo que se debe de realizar.

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3 Be careful what you post

A third tip is to be careful what you post on social media. You may think that your posts are harmless or private, but they can reveal a lot of information about you, such as your location, habits, interests, and opinions. This information can be used by hackers, scammers, or stalkers to target you or impersonate you. You can also face legal, professional, or personal consequences if your posts are offensive, inappropriate, or false. Therefore, you should think twice before you post anything on social media and avoid sharing sensitive or personal data.

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DIANA ROSE CABIGAO

10+ yrs Graphic Designer | Adobe & Canva Expert
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Aside from being careful on what you post, BE CAREFUL ON WHAT YOU CLICK as well. There are so many malicious websites that entices you to click not knowing that a virus or malware is already attacking your system.

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4 Avoid phishing and malware

A fourth tip is to avoid phishing and malware attacks on social media. Phishing is a technique that uses fake emails, messages, or links to trick you into revealing your login credentials, financial information, or other data. Malware is a software that can infect your device and steal your data, monitor your activities, or damage your system. You can avoid these attacks by being vigilant and skeptical of any suspicious or unsolicited communication on social media. You should also use antivirus software and update your device regularly.

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Adam Cieslinski

Web Assistant at Somerset Council | 10+ Years of Media Experience: Fusing Web Development and Graphic Design for Exceptional Digital Experiences | LinkedIn Top Voice
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Enhance your digital hygiene by double-checking the authenticity of third-party applications before granting access to your social media accounts. Verify app permissions and only authorize those that are essential. Additionally, consider enabling two-factor authentication for an added layer of security, safeguarding your accounts against unauthorized access. By combining skepticism with proactive security measures, you fortify your defense against evolving phishing and malware tactics.

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5 Review your connections

A fifth tip is to review your connections on social media. You may have hundreds or thousands of friends, followers, or contacts on different platforms, but do you really know them all? Some of them may be fake, inactive, or malicious accounts that can spam you, harass you, or compromise your data. You should also be wary of accepting requests from strangers or people you do not trust. You should periodically check your connections and remove or block any unwanted or suspicious ones.

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6 Educate yourself

A sixth tip is to educate yourself on the latest trends and threats related to social media and data privacy. You should stay informed and aware of the policies, features, and updates of each platform you use, as well as the laws, regulations, and rights that protect your data. You should also learn how to recognize and report any abuse, violation, or breach that may affect your data or security. You can find reliable and relevant sources of information online, such as blogs, podcasts, or newsletters, that can help you keep up with the changing landscape of social media and data privacy.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can social media users protect their data privacy?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Check your privacy settings

2 Use strong passwords

3 Be careful what you post

4 Avoid phishing and malware

5 Review your connections

6 Educate yourself

7 Here’s what else to consider

Social Media

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How can social media users protect their data privacy?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Check your privacy settings

2 Use strong passwords

3 Be careful what you post

4 Avoid phishing and malware

5 Review your connections

6 Educate yourself

7 Here’s what else to consider

Social Media

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