Active on Social Media? Here’s How to Stay Safe

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People are slowly waking up to the fact that cyberbullying and cyberstalking can be very real dangers. Cross-platform harassment can be difficult to handle alone, especially if you have never faced such a situation before. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Here are several practical ways to stay safe on social media.

Think Before You Post

Setting your profile to private and enabling all available privacy settings on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other platforms is a sensible first step. However, remember that anything you post can still be screenshotted or shared by people who may not have your best interests at heart.

Even content shared as a joke can resurface later. Schools and employers routinely search applicants’ names and social profiles during background checks. Before posting, ask yourself whether someone could misinterpret that tweet or story. It is easy to get swept up in a heated online exchange, so always think twice.

Doxx-proof Your Socials

Another important consideration is the risk of doxxing—when someone uncovers and publishes your personal information online, sometimes using it for blackmail. Seemingly harmless details, such as the name of your school or a classmate, can be pieced together to reveal your identity.

Review your social media history and delete or hide posts that could help cyberstalkers uncover private information about your life. Next, run a Google search for your name and usernames to see what personal details appear in the results.

Although many platforms instruct search engines not to index accounts, third-party sites may still surface. Use Google’s removal request form to delist any links you find uncomfortable.

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Hide Your IP Address with a VPN

Your IP address reveals your approximate location—country, city and sometimes ZIP code. While it does not expose your exact address, this information can help cyberstalkers corroborate other details they may already possess.

Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) masks your real IP address and encrypts your internet traffic. This protects you from hackers, surveillance and even your own internet service provider. A VPN also lets you safely use public Wi-Fi for social media, online banking or PayPal transactions, and prevents your ISP from selling your browsing data to advertisers.

Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

You have probably heard about two-factor authentication many times. Although it can feel inconvenient to reach for a second device just to scroll through memes, 2FA remains one of the most effective ways to protect your account after a phishing attack or password leak.

Whenever possible, use an authenticator app such as Google Authenticator or Authy. SMS-based 2FA is better than nothing, but sharing your phone number with every service creates its own privacy risks, and attackers can sometimes hijack SMS codes through social-engineering tactics aimed at mobile carriers.

Many other techniques exist that cyber harassers use to bypass common security measures. Follow the first link in this article to learn more about recognising threats across both online and offline environments.

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