How to Protect Yourself
Lock down your privacy settings. Nearly all social networking sites let you make your profile, posts, and photos private. However, until you customize those settings, everything you do is usually public. Get familiar with your favorite social media platform's privacy settings so you always know who can see what you post. You can also use most social media apps' privacy settings to control who can find you on the app and contact you directly. TikTok – Go to ☰ > Settings and Privacy > Privacy. Instagram – Go to ☰ > Account Privacy. Snapchat – Tap the gear on your profile and scroll to the "Privacy Controls" settings. Facebook – Go to ☰ > Settings & privacy > Privacy Checkup. LinkedIn – Click or tap your profile icon and select Settings & Privacy.
Don't overshare. Once you post something on a social networking site, it can be difficult to erase it completely. Even if you delete something you posted, somebody may have taken a screenshot. Don't share any information you wouldn't feel comfortable with a stranger knowing, like your address, phone number, birthday, or vacation plans, as this can lead to identity theft, stalking, cyberbullying, and even blackmail.
Keep your location private. Some social networking sites allow you to use geotagging to share your location with others on the app. If you've given the app permission to access your location, others may be able to see where you're posting from. Avoid using "location tagging" or "check in" features on social media so strangers can't find out where you are. When posting pictures on social media, pay attention to what's in the background. For example, if you post a selfie outside your house, someone can do a reverse image search to find your house and thus your address. If you're on Instagram, check out this list of funny locations you can use on posts instead of your actual location.
Don't send anyone explicit photos or videos. If a stranger asks you for a sexual photo or video of yourself, don't send it—even if they seem like a genuinely nice person. Similarly, don't do anything sexual with people you don't know over video chat. Sgt. Scott Nelson notes that blackmail scams, also known as "sextortion," are growing more common. These situations often begin with a friendly or flirty conversation. Still, when the blackmailer gets a photo or video of you doing something you wouldn't want to be made public, they'll threaten to send it to everyone you know unless you pay them money.
Don't meet up with strangers in person. If you don't know somebody in real life, avoid meeting them in person. If you're buying or selling something on Facebook Marketplace and must hand off the item in person, bring somebody with you, and arrange the meeting to occur in front of a police station or other safe location. If you're going on a date with somebody you met on a social networking site, Sgt. Nelson suggests making it a group date so you can both bring a friend the first time you meet—even if it's just for the first portion of the date.
Don't click links in private messages. Scammers often use private messaging on social media to find their victims, posing as potential new friends/suitors or people you already know. If you get a message that contains a link, a request for money, or anything else that seems out of the ordinary, don't click it—even if the message appears to come from a friend's account, as it may have been hacked. If you receive a suspicious link, report it. If you think the message may have come from a friend, try contacting your friend another way to make sure the message is really from them.
Use two-factor authentication on all accounts. Adding a second step to the login process makes it harder for hackers to access your social media accounts, even if they have your password. When you set up two-factor authentication, in addition to needing your password, you'll also need to enter a unique code (sent to you by SMS message or authentication app) that can only be accessed on your phone. TikTok - Go to ☰ > Settings and privacy > Security & permissions > 2-step verification. Instagram – Go to ☰ > Settings > See more in Accounts Center > Password and security > Two-factor authentication. Snapchat – Tap the gear on your profile and go to Two-Factor Authentication > Continue. Facebook – Click or tap the menu (or your profile pic at the top-right), go to Settings & privacy > Settings > Password and security > Use two-factor authentication. LinkedIn – Click or tap your profile icon and go to Settings > Sign in & security > Two-step verification.
Use strong, unique passwords. If you use the same password for all your accounts, a hacker who cracks your password on one app will be able to access your account everywhere. To prevent this, use a strong, unique password for every social media account. If it's too hard to remember your passwords, try a password manager like 1password, Bitwarden, or Dashlane.
Don't accept friend and follow requests from strangers. Watch out for strangers who find you on social media and try to start up conversations, especially if you don't have friends in common. If somebody you don't know sends you a friend request or starts a conversation out of nowhere, be skeptical.
Report bullying, harassment, and abuse. Don't reply to harmful messages—instead, just report them to the social media platform. If you're a child and somebody is bullying you online, alert a parent or a teacher, and don't try to engage with the bully.
Protect your devices. Always make sure your computer, phone, or tablet are up to date, and that you've installed the latest updates for your social media apps. If you're using a computer to access social media, use antivirus and antimalware protection, like Microsoft Defender (which is built into Windows) or AVG. You should also avoid installing unfamiliar apps—especially those claiming they can help you see who "stalks you on social media," as these apps are always scams.
Don't believe everything you read. Unlike vetted sources, anybody can post on social media, which leads to a lot of misinformation being shared. Even people you know and trust might share things without checking the facts first. Even photos and videos can be fake, especially with the advancement of AI. Always double-check your sources before assuming something is true. wikiHow offers a free course on How to Spot and Counter Disinformation Online. Check out wikiHow's free course on Spotting and Countering Disinformation Online.
Scams to Watch Out For
Investment scams. Beware of scammers who claim huge successes investing in cryptocurrency and FOREX trading and promise great returns. They might hack accounts to make it seem like your friends and family are reaching out about investing. If someone claiming to have made a lot of money through investing sends you a link or asks for money, report and block them.
Romance scams. Imagine a beautiful or handsome new person messages you on social media. They seem super kind and interesting, and they're showering you with compliments. They have a shocking or sad story that draws you in, and a connection is made. While this may seem flattering and fun, it's more likely the beginning of a romance scam. If a new social media friend insists on contacting you in another app, asks for personal information, or gives you a sob story about needing money, don't give in.
Impersonation scams. Is a friend or family member contacting you on social media needing money? Scammers may create fake social media accounts using the name and photo of an unsuspecting person, add that person's friends and family to their network, and send messages pretending to be that person asking for money for emergencies or investments. Be cautious of friend requests from people already in your network, as these could be impersonators.
Employment scams. Were you offered a work-from-home job on LinkedIn or Facebook that sounds too good to be true? It probably is. Scammers "recruit" people looking for work on social media, do an "interview" over the phone, text, or video chat, and then offer the victim a job—only to require that the victim pay money for bogus fees, computer equipment, or background checks. No legitimate employer will ever ask you to pay to start a job.
Marketplace scams. If you shop on Facebook Marketplace, watch out for scammers with fake listings who ask for payment via Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, and other methods that can't be reversed. If you sell on Marketplace, beware of scammers who "accidentally" overpay you and ask you to reverse the overpayment—this scam, which is common on Zelle, will result in you losing money.
Blackmail/sextortion scams. These scams involve a person getting a photo or video of you doing something you wouldn't want others to see. They might accomplish this by asking you to send a sexual photo or video of yourself, or they might screen-record you on a video chat. Once they have the ammo they need, they'll threaten to send it to your friends, family, employer, teacher, and other people you know unless you send them money.
What Parents Can Do
Create your kids' social media accounts yourself. Sgt. Nelson recommends that parents who allow their kids to use social networking sites be the ones who create the accounts. "That way," he says, "you can control what settings are initially checked." Not only can you lock down their accounts privacy-wise, but you can also create their username and a secure password.
Don't let your kids use social media behind closed doors. Sgt. Nelson also suggests having your kids use their social networking apps in common areas so the screen is visible and you can monitor their reactions to what they're seeing.
Tell your kids to report cyberbullying immediately. If your child is being cyberbullied, tell them not to respond, and that they should report the bullying messages to the social media site and tell you immediately. If your child alerts you to cyberbullying: Take screenshots of any instances of cyberbullying, and note the dates and times. If your child is being cyberbullied by classmates, report the incident to their school. If cyberbullying includes threats of violence, sexually explicit photos or videos, stalking, or hate crimes, report the issue to law enforcement.
Know the warning signs of cyberbullying. According to Sgt. Nelson, cyberbullying is more than just name-calling and inappropriate comments and messages—cyberbullies may also convince your child to take and send inappropriate photos, give them their passwords, and even steal their parents' credit cards. Some signs your child may be the victim of cyberbullying: They're not using social media or texting as much as they were. They hide their screen when you're near or appear angry or upset by what is happening on their devices. They are avoiding social situations they once enjoyed. They shut down their social media accounts and create new ones.
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