Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, Snapchat and CO are simply part of everyday life for many of us these days. If you want to use what the popular platforms have to offer, you can't avoid revealing some of your personal data.

Name, address, telephone number… data without value? Not at all! After recurring data scandals, more and more users want to protect their privacy. Our colleagues from Safer Internet will show you straight away what you need to know about Facebook and Co.:

Whatsapp

A long-running favorite among messengers – especially among young people! The service was founded in 2009 and has been in the hands of Facebook since 2014. Anyone who has always wondered how to hide their “last online” status or what data backup or the cloud is all about will find what they are looking for here:

Step-by-step instructions for WhatsApp

Instagram

The photo app is the platform par excellence for many influencers. It was founded in 2010 and also sold to Facebook in 2012. Instagram, for example, is publicly visible by default, but can also be used privately - you can find out how here:

Step-by-step instructions for Instagram

Snapchat

This instant messenger has been active since 2011 and specializes in sending photos and videos. Facebook has also been interested in this service for a long time, but Snapchat has so far rejected every offer. When it comes to data security, the topic of safe sexting is particularly interesting, as are snaps sent and whether they are actually “gone”. If you are looking for answers to these topics, you can find them here:

Step-by-step instructions for Snapchat

Facebook

Let's come to one of the most famous platforms. Facebook has asserted itself as a social media giant since 2004 - and also made negative headlines when it came to data scandals. Facebook is also THE platform when it comes to fake competitions, fake profiles or fake news. Even though the company makes efforts to delete such content, it is a great idea to be fully familiar with the privacy settings of this platform:

Step-by-step instructions for Facebook

Facebook Messenger

The in-house messenger also deserves a separate look - after all, you can use it independently of Facebook. Many users have been chatting via Facebook Messenger since 2011 and have already come across one or two attempts at fraud. This doesn't have to be:

Step-by-step instructions for Facebook Messenger

TikTok

The app is similar to Instagram, except that instead of photos you create and upload 15-second to 5-minute music videos. TikTok comes from China and has been used primarily in Asia since 2016. But there are also enthusiastic TikTok users in this country. Here you will find everything you need to know about TikTok:

Step-by-step instructions for TikTok

Google account

A Google account offers its user many conveniences. Be it when registering with third-party providers or combining different Google services through Google Takeout. This popularity also comes with a few disadvantages in the form of phishing and malware attacks. The importance of privacy is particularly important here:

Step-by-step instructions for Google account

YouTube

In recent years, the video platform has experienced some ups and downs. Together with the influencers, a whole new profession was born here: the YouTuber. YouTube has been a pioneer of social media since 2005 and this is the best way to keep your account fit for the next 14 years:

Step-by-step instructions for YouTube

Article image: Shutterstock / From Rawpixel.com


If you enjoyed this post and value the importance of well-founded information, become part of the exclusive Mimikama Club! Support our work and help us promote awareness and combat misinformation. As a club member you receive:

📬 Special Weekly Newsletter: Get exclusive content straight to your inbox.
🎥 Exclusive video* “Fact Checker Basic Course”: Learn from Andre Wolf how to recognize and combat misinformation.
📅 Early access to in-depth articles and fact checks: always be one step ahead.
📄 Bonus articles, just for you: Discover content you won't find anywhere else.
📝 Participation in webinars and workshops : Join us live or watch the recordings.
✔️ Quality exchange: Discuss safely in our comment function without trolls and bots.

Join us and become part of a community that stands for truth and clarity. Together we can make the world a little better!

* In this special course, Andre Wolf will teach you how to recognize and effectively combat misinformation. After completing the video, you have the opportunity to join our research team and actively participate in the education - an opportunity that is exclusively reserved for our club members!


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 )