4 Things You Should Avoid Doing on Social Media

Stories of data breaches, celebrity cyber-attacks and hacking have swamped Twitter and Facebook feeds alike. As the spotlight continues to shine on online safety and how to avoid being hacked, here are a few considerations to take into mind when posting on your social media accounts:

Don’t complain about your job online

We all have bad days at work, and much as you want to vent and talk about it, don’t take your frustration out on social media. Although you may have your privacy settings on, nothing on the Internet is 100% private. If you wouldn’t want your boss or a coworker seeing your status, then don’t post it.

Avoid online arguments

Social networking sites are great for instant communication, but you have to be careful what you post. It’s one thing to share your opinion in a post or reply to a message, but it’s a whole other issue to get into an online argument. If you really feel that passionate about a subject or feel the need to argue with someone, save everyone else the grief and resolve the issue in person.

Be aware of what pictures you post

One of the many benefits of social media is being able to connect with friends, family and colleagues regardless of their location. It’s fun to share pictures and keep everyone updated, but uploading mass amounts of pictures can do more harm than good. Much like complaining about your job, nothing on the Internet is really private. So again, if you don’t want your boss, coworkers or certain family members stumbling across pictures, don’t post them.

Don’t get too personal

Posting your email address, phone number or city location may seem harmless but can actually put your personal information at risk. For example, if your address is listed on one of your social accounts, you’re more vulnerable towards burglaries and identity theft. Even if you post your phone number that’s enough for a hacker to retrieve your home address.

When it comes to social media, it’s wise to err on the side of caution and be careful with what information you choose to share. For more information on social media don’ts, visit How Stuff Works.

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