Social networking sites have become an integral part of our world, with up to 4.95 billion users worldwide (or 61.5% of the global population) as of October 2023. We use them for a wide range of reasons, the main ones perhaps being to keep in touch with friends and family, and share snippets of our lives with them.
However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows with social networking sites. The use of these platforms also comes with several risks, some of which can have major, life-altering consequences. In this article, we’ll unpack some of the main risks of social networking sites and share useful strategies for protecting yourself.
The Main Risks of Social Networking Sites
The following are the main risks to be aware of when using social media sites.
Cyberbullying and Harassment
Social networking sites can be used for cyberbullying and harassment. This can come in various forms, from making hurtful comments to spreading rumors or even threats. Victims can experience profound emotional and psychological distress. In extreme cases, this can lead to severe consequences such as anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.
Impersonation (a.k.a Catfishing)
Most social networking sites have low thresholds for identity verification, which makes them vulnerable to the creation of fake profiles and impersonation — a phenomenon called catfishing. In fact, with some sites, all you need is a username and email address to create an account. An imposter could use your name and information to build a profile and then use it to manipulate others into sending them money by posing as you. Or, they could entangle you in an emotional and financial scam by pretending to be someone else and gaining your trust.
Data Breaches and Unauthorized Access
Social networking sites store vast amounts of data. This makes them attractive targets for hackers who can gain access to your private account information and then use it for malicious purposes, like identity theft.
Social Engineering Attacks
Social media platforms are also fertile grounds for social engineering attacks, where criminals psychologically manipulate you into revealing sensitive information or performing specific actions. Leveraging the personal information you share online, attackers can craft convincing narratives to build trust and eventually deceive you.
Malware and Phishing Scams
Cybercriminals often use social media to execute phishing attacks or distribute malware. For instance, they can send you a seemingly harmless link through a direct message that leads you to a malicious site or that downloads malware or viruses onto your device. Typically, this happens by leveraging some form of impersonation, catfishing, or social engineering to gain your trust and make you more likely to click on a malicious link.
Safety Tips for Social Media
While there’s no way to guarantee 100% safety on social media, there are steps you can take to safeguard your presence on these platforms and mitigate some of the risks we’ve highlighted.
Manage Your Privacy Settings
All social media platforms offer privacy settings that let you control several elements. For example, you can control who can see your social posts, who can tag photos, who can send friend requests or messages, and so on. Take a tour through the privacy settings of each of your social media accounts, review the privacy options available, and then adjust them to your comfort level. As a general practice, restrict access to people you know and trust.
You can check out our guide to understanding if your social media profiles should be public or private for more information on how to manage your privacy settings.
Don’t Share Private Information
Closely related to managing your privacy settings is not publicly sharing sensitive private information on social media, like your financial information. A photo of your new driver’s license, for example, may seem harmless, but it can provide criminals with a lot of valuable information that they can use to defraud you or commit other crimes. A good rule of thumb is if you wouldn’t shout it to a crowd, don’t post it online.
Be Cautious with Unknown Messages or Friend Requests
Unsolicited messages or friend requests are two of the main ways criminals use to execute social engineering attacks. It’s fine to accept friend requests from old classmates, colleagues, and family on social media. But if it’s someone you don’t personally know, proceed with caution.
Check their profile thoroughly, and maybe even perform a people search using their name on a site like Spokeo to see if their profile correlates with other public data. When in doubt, it’s perfectly okay to decline or ignore the request.
If you haven’t been diligent about this in the past, it is always a good idea to go through and do an audit of your friends and followers on your various social media accounts. Delete or block any names you don’t recognize or have fallen out of touch with completely.
Create Strong and Unique Passwords
Make sure to maintain strong and unique passwords for all your social media accounts. This lowers the chances of hacking or illegal access. Use a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable information like your birthdate, phone number, wedding anniversary — basically anything related to your personal life.
Also, use different passwords for different sites. If juggling multiple passwords seems like a hassle, you can use password managers. These nifty tools store your passwords securely and autofill them when needed, so all you need to remember is one master password. They can also generate strong and unique credentials for all your accounts.
Regularly Update Software and Apps
Make sure to update your social media apps regularly to benefit from the latest security enhancements and bug fixes. The same goes for your operating system and browsers like Safari and Chrome.
Stay Updated on the Different Types of Scams Out There
Make it a habit to keep informed about the latest social media scams — including phishing scams, lottery scams, romance scams, fake giveaway scams, and work-from-home scams. By understanding how these scams work and the tactics criminals use, you can stay one step ahead and avoid becoming a victim.
Wrapping Up
In an era where our lives are intertwined with the digital world, safeguarding your online presence has never been more critical. In this article, we’ve looked at the myriad risks that social media poses and provided some key safety tips. From creating strong passwords to limiting the sharing of personal information to staying updated on the latest scams, you now possess a comprehensive toolkit for a safer social media presence.
Ready to bolster your online safety even further? Check out Spokeo. This robust tool can be your trusted ally when navigating the online world, helping you monitor and manage your digital footprint. With Spokeo, you can uncover what information about you is publicly available and accessible. Armed with this awareness, you can take steps to reduce any exposure that might put you in jeopardy.
Sean LaPointe is an expert freelance writer with experience in finance and tech. He has written for several well-known brands and publications, including The Motley Fool, Angi/HomeAdvisor, and CapLinked.