Almost everyone uses social media in some form in 2024, and it’s a rarity if someone doesn’t. Whether that’s posting on Instagram or Facebook, tweeting on Twitter (sorry, X), doom scrolling on Tik-tok or even just creating boards on Pinterest, no matter how simple it is or how little you use it, Social media is everywhere.
And this is not necessarily bad. It fosters connections and positivity, brand promotions and new creations, fandom spaces and relationships. It often gains a rep in the media for being a toxic place, and it can be, with inherent problems in social media just in the same way there is in society. That doesn’t mean it cannot be enjoyed, or that it doesn’t do good things. But there are some common dangers to social media – trolling, catfishing, stalking and grooming to name a few. Whilst most people are aware of the consequences of using social media now, it doesn’t always mean that they know how to manage and limit those dangers.
Here are some ways you can keep safe on the internet.
Passwords
Everyone knows that using 12345 or your birthday might be simple and easy to remember, but it’s the most obvious kind of password to be traced or hacked. Strong passwords are often a random mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, moving between caps lock and lowercase, something that cannot be easily connected to your information like date of birth or mother’s maiden name can be. But it’s also good to regularly update your passwords to. I know it can be hard enough trying to remember one password, let alone changing them every few months, but by updating them frequently it can prevent cyber criminals accessing your account.
2 step-verification
This can also be called two-factor authentication, or multi-factor authentication and can be set up across all social media platforms. It is a means to double checking that it is you using that account rather than someone claiming to be you and prevents cyber criminals accessing your account even if they have your passwords. This can also include the likes of online banking, online shopping or emails, it’s not just limited to social media.
To enable two-step verification, you may either be sent a pin or a code, or might be asked to use your fingerprint or face scan or an app. If it is available, it can be found in security settings, and you follow the instructions provided.
For example, two-step verification on Instagram. On your Instagram account, click the three lined symbol in the top right to take you to settings. Click Accounts Centre and scroll down to Password and Security. Click Two-fact authentication, the account you wish to enable it for, and then the security method you wish to use. From there follow the on-screen instructions, it should only take a couple of minutes to set up.
This can also be found in Instagram, Help Centre, which all social media platforms should have:
Reporting Accounts
On any social media platform, you are able to report content. This can be something you feel is inappropriate, content that is harassment or bullying, or violating community guidelines. Reporting is anonymous, and you are able to submit photos of that content to be reviewed. This includes reporting accounts rather than just single posts, if you believe the person behind the account is being abusive online or creating inappropriate content.
Blocking Content
Similarly, if you see content that you don’t like or disagree with but is isn’t harming anyone, or perhaps you have had a bad interaction with someone, you can block them. This means the account you have blocked can no longer see your account, and you cannot see theirs, sort of like putting up a wall between your accounts. You can still report this account if you have blocked them. You may also wish to block tags on Facebook, Instagram or Tumblr, or mute them on Twitter. This likely isn’t full proof, because often people use multiple tags on their posts, but it can help to filter out content you do not want to see.
Another option to limit contact with someone on social media is to restrict their account. This is more like a soft block, it means you limit their interactions with your account without them knowing. Whether you’re blocking someone or restricting them, you can also remove this at any time.
Age Restrictions
Although all social media apps have age ratings and restrictions, they are often easily bypassed. Usually, the age rating for these platforms is 13+, meaning children under 13 are not allowed on social media. However, it’s incredibly easy to lie about your age when signing up. If possible, it would be wise to keep your child off of social media until they are at least 13, maybe older, as much as you can, as it can be hard to monitor what sort of content they are accessing, purposefully or otherwise. Social media also sets a certain expectation for its users, such as unattainable beauty standards or value based off of virality, which can be incredibly damaging no matter the users age.
Geolocation
Social Media apps will often ask for your location when posting. In most cases, this is not always necessary. You can limit knowledge of you whereabouts by turning geolocation off or tagging the location once you have left – if for example, you’re on holiday for a week. Sharing your location with social media platforms, can mean that it’s been automatically been made public, such as checking in on Facebook or updating an Instagram story. Of course, you may want to share your location, which is understandable, but if you’re concerned about who can access that information, you may wish to heck your location settings or privacy settings on your accounts.
It’s important to remember that, just like in real life, no matter how safe you make yourself, or choose to use social media, there will always be others using it for wrong reasons. Staying aware and conscious of who’s on your page or in your requests, or the information you’re sharing about yourself and how that could be used is vital. And perhaps every once in a while, take a break, it’s a privilege not a necessity. It can be good to remember that we can always log out.