According to statistics, 69% of US adults use at least one social media site. However, most people are unaware of the fact that Facebook and other popular social networks actually collect a lot of personal information about their users, so even the most innocent posts may sometimes come back and bite you in the behind.
We put together a list of 13 things you should never share on social media in order to be on the safe side.
13. Intimate details about your relationships
Whatever is going on between you and your partner should be kept out of other people’s reach. Don’t write about what goes on in your bedroom, don’t tell anybody about your pet names, and other private things which add special value to your relationships, otherwise you could lose your partner’s respect and trust.
12. Kissing selfies
Most people think that it’s in extremely poor taste to show your intimate moments in public. It not only looks tacky, but can also offend your single friends. And, your relatives probably won’t appreciate these types of pictures either.
Experts also say that the couples who overshare on social media usually feel insecure in their relationships and have some doubts about their partners.
11. Selfies taken on sacred occasions
Some places and occasions call for respectful behavior, that’s why you probably shouldn’t snap selfies with your smiling face during funerals, in cemeteries, churches, or other places of worship.
10. Illegal actions
If you like boasting about breaking all the existing laws (driving drunk, taking selfies while on the highway, having illegal firearms, and so on) you can get fined, at best, and go to jail, at worst. Some people even go too far and post photos of their drug stashes or cash they’ve just stolen.
9. Incendiary comments
Even if you make a comment that is meant to be just a joke, you should be careful about what you are writing as other people can get offended. That’s why it’s better to avoid such topics as religion, politics, gender differences, and other serious issues that can raise debates.
8. Complaints about your work
Even if your collegues don’t have access to your social media profile, they may find out about your attitude towards your boss or working conditions some other way. So, no matter how frustrated you are with your current occupation, keep it personal, otherwise it could even cost you your job.
7. Your location
Geolocation allows your smartphone to track your GPS coordinates in any corner of the world. At first sight, it might seem cool to let your friends and family know where you are at any moment, but the risks are not worth it. If you want to protect yourself from malicious individuals, it’s better to disable your location tracker forever.
6. Vacation plans
Posting regular updates from the resort you are staying at is a huge mistake because you don’t know who might see this information and use it to break into your house and steal everything you have. If you really want to share your traveling experience, wait until you get back, it will be much safer.
5. Personal identification documents
Sometimes people get so overwhelmed at big milestones, like getting their first driver’s license or buying their dream house, that they want to share their joy with everybody immediately.
But don’t forget that the more personal information you reveal online, the greater risk you put yourself in. If someone can see your personal data clearly enough, they have enough info to steal your identity or to break into your home. This rule concerns all the documents that have your name on them — IDs, passports, flight tickets, property records, and so on.
4. Financial information
New debit card 😍😍😍 pic.twitter.com/NQK8zfHpnY
— Nemo (@NemoTheRetard) March 9, 2017
Money is a very delicate topic for all of us, especially when we experience financial trouble. So if you’re really successful, you just got promotion at work with an incredible salary, or bought your own private jet, don’t rush to share your news with everybody on your friends list.
Besides envious comments, you could risk your fortune as there are a lot of hackers who can easily get access to your savings if you take photos of your credit cards, share the details about your bank accounts, or post any other information confirming your financial status.
3. Party pictures
Don’t ruin your online image with photos taken when you were hammered. You never know who will look at your profile pictures — maybe next time it will be your boss or your grandma. You can’t risk losing your credibility because of several shots taken during the weekend.
2. Ultrasound pictures
Gynecologists usually say that you should wait until the second trimester to break the happy news on social media because the risk of miscarriage is lower at that time.
However, most people, including Julia Spira, the author of The Rules of Netiquette: How to MInd Your Digital Manners, think that it’s inappropriate to share alien-like photos of your unborn child as your followers might find it very awkward.
1. Expensive gifts and purchases
Studies show that scrolling through photos of other people’s expensive belongings on social media increases our feelings of insecurity and failure and fills us with envy and dissatisfaction with our own life.
Moreover, if you share a shiny new toy via a public account, you should always take into consideration that it will attract unnecessary attention to your wealth and some people may want to steal it.
Always remember that once you post something publicly, it’s almost impossible to remove it completely, and you won’t be able to trace down who sees the information about you, so be extremely careful in choosing things to share on social media.
