Social media platforms are designed to make it as easy as possible for us to share information and connect with others. They encourage us to reveal more of our lives to connect with our friends, our family and the world around us. However, this apparent openness can also mislead us and cause us to carelessly reveal private data. This puts privacy at risk.

One reason for this is that social media platforms are often designed to appeal to our reward system in the brain. When we share something and receive likes, comments or retweets, we feel validated and recognized. This can lead us to share more and more of our lives in order to continue receiving this type of validation and recognition.

In addition, social media platforms are designed to keep us on their site for as long as possible. The more information we share and the more we connect with others, the longer we stay on the platform and the more advertising they can present to us. Therefore, these platforms have a financial interest in us revealing as much about ourselves as possible.

We appeal to your common sense and sense of responsibility: protect your privacy and that of your family. Remember that the Internet is not a safe place and that once private information is made public, it may remain there forever.

The problem is that by sharing private information, as already explained, we can put ourselves and our privacy at risk. It is important to realize that the urge to share private information on social media platforms often arises because of the way these platforms are designed and how they play on our natural needs for recognition and belonging.

To counteract this urge, we should first become aware of why we feel the need to share certain information. Ask yourself whether it is really necessary to publish these details and what the consequences might be. Also, try to distance yourself from the immediate gratification that likes and comments provide and instead appreciate the long-term value of your privacy and security.

A good rule of thumb is to always ask yourself, “Would I share this information in a public space like a park or a coffee shop?” If the answer is “no,” it’s probably best not to share it on social media either -sharing platforms.

MIMIKAMA
These and similar simple and private questions are currently flooding Facebook. In this one case alone, 4,760 users posted the time of their child's birth!

It is our responsibility to protect ourselves and our privacy in the digital space. By being aware of the mechanisms of social media platforms and critically examining our own actions, we can better protect ourselves from carelessly disclosing private information.

Publishing private information can be of interest to various actors, including marketing companies and fraudsters. Marketing companies use your personal information to send you targeted advertisements or sell your information to third parties. Fraudsters, on the other hand, can steal your identity to access your accounts, take out loans in your name, or blackmail you and your family.

To protect yourself and your privacy, you should follow these tips:


  1. Check your privacy settings: Make sure your profiles on different platforms are only visible to those you trust and adjust settings accordingly.
  2. Don't share sensitive information: Avoid publicly sharing personal information such as phone numbers, addresses, banking or credit card information.
  3. Be careful with photos: Think carefully about the photos you post online, especially those that show children or where you live. Use privacy settings to limit visibility.
  4. Check your digital footprints: Regularly delete old posts and photos that might contain private information, and be aware of what information about you is available online.
  5. Educate your family and friends: Talk to your loved ones about the importance of privacy and encourage them to be careful too.
  6. Use strong passwords: To keep your accounts secure, use complex passwords that consist of a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters. Change these passwords regularly and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.
  7. Enable two-factor authentication: Many social media platforms offer an additional layer of security in the form of two-factor authentication. Enabling this feature will make it more difficult to access your account, even if your password falls into the wrong hands.
  8. Be careful with suspicious links and messages: Scammers often use phishing tactics to steal your personal information. Do not click on suspicious links or report suspicious messages or requests.
  9. Stay informed about current scams and online threats: Stay up to date on new scams and security risks to better protect your privacy.
  10. Use trusted security software: Install antivirus and security software on your devices to protect yourself from malware and other threats.

Every individual must develop an awareness of the dangers that lurk on the Internet and especially on social media platforms. By following the advice and tips mentioned, you can significantly improve your privacy and security online and thus help prevent your personal information from falling into the wrong hands.

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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )