Even if you think that you have your Facebook privacy settings locked down, it’s still pretty difficult to control where your posts and photos end up. You don’t have much control over what your friends do with your posts, and with just a few likes, a post can be seen by hundreds of people that you don’t know. That means that it’s way too easy for posts to turn up when university admissions officers, potential employers, or prospective business partners search for you on the social network. So there are a few things that you should avoid posting about on Facebook, just to stay on the safe side.
1. Data tied to your personal and financial securityDon’t make it any easier for a hacker to steal your identity When you’re on Facebook, it’s never a good idea to post your home address, your telephone number, your birth year, your mother’s maiden name, or any other information that a criminal could use to steal your identity. All of the information that you post online makes it easy enough for a determined attacker to steal your identity, so protect yourself and don’t make it any more likely that your identity will get stolen. 2. Clues to your passwords Don’t post any information that can clue a hacker in to possible passwords . Another important part of protecting your security online is avoiding posting information that might hint at the passwords you use or the security questions some services have had you answer. (If you’re still using insecure passwords, do yourself a favor and set up a password manager.) Avoid unnecessary posts about your childhood pets, the town where you grew up, or the name of your first girlfriend or boyfriend — all pieces of information that a hacker could leverage against you and that your social network really doesn’t need to know. 3. Information about your location When on Facebook, it’s not a good idea to share information about your location If you aren’t vigilant about your privacy settings, you may be inadvertently revealing your location every time you upload a photo or post your thoughts. Giving out your location can be a bad move if you have acquaintances whom you’d prefer to prevent from tracking you down. And a post from the airport or your vacation destination can clue potential thieves in to the fact that you aren’t at home and probably won’t be for a while. 4. Your travel plans Don’t share your travel plans with your entire social network on Facebook | Source: iStock It’s also never a good idea to intentionally announce to the world when you’re planning to be out of town and leaving your house vacant. Criminals are increasingly watching social networks to figure out when they can target potential victims. Most people would prefer not to return home from that skiing trip or tropical cruise to find out that they’ve been robbed. In the same vein, it’s a bad idea to post just to brag about material possessions; while it’s always great to see friends achieve their goals, you could be painting a target on that brand-new car or TV. 5. Humblebrags While it might not be as dangerous as posting about your vacation plans, boasting about your good fortune in an attempt to make others jealous won’t win you any favor among your Facebook friends. If you have good news, share it in a way that feels genuine. Don’t try to fish for compliments or make others envious of your lifestyle. 6. Attention-seeking posts Vague posts that are practically begging for someone to ask you “what’s wrong?” or “what happened?” or “what’s the good news?” are just as bad as posts that exist solely to fish for compliments. No one appreciates seeing vague posts that simply proclaim a day the “worst day ever” or even the “best day ever.” Be considerate of your Facebook friends, and don’t leave them hanging. If you’re just writing a post to get attention, then reconsider whether it’s something worth sharing. 7. Posts that share way too much personal information Whether you just broke up with your significant other, got some bad news from your doctor, or are disappointed about how a friend bailed on your plans, don’t share excessive personal details. It’s OK to post about what’s going on in your life, but you shouldn’t feel the need to share all the gory details with your extended social network. Before you post something, consider that your colleagues or boss might see it; if it isn’t something you want the world to see, then don’t post it on Facebook. 8. Embarrassing photos of you or others Whether it’s unflattering photos of your friends or snapshots from that series of bars you went to last weekend, it’s never a good idea to post photos that give the wrong impression of you or your friends. Posting them is a great way to send the wrong message to everyone who runs across your profile, and it’s also pretty easy for photos to be shared and go viral these days — something you probably don’t want to happen with photos that you only uploaded for a quick laugh. to be continued....
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