How do I stay safe on social media?
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube are wonderful for staying connected with family, keeping up with news, and finding communities. Staying safe mostly comes down to controlling what you share and who can see it. Avoid posting your full birthdate, home address, phone number, or daily routine (like "I am away on vacation until next week") publicly. These details can be used by scammers or burglars. Use the privacy settings on each platform to make your posts visible only to friends and family, not to everyone on the internet. Be careful about friend or follow requests from strangers — even if they have mutual friends listed. Scammers create fake accounts that copy real people's names and photos to appear legitimate. If you get a message from a friend asking for money or gift cards — call that friend directly before responding. Their account may have been hacked.
How to stay safe on social media
- On Facebook: tap the three lines → Settings & privacy → Privacy Shortcuts → review who can see your posts.
- Never accept friend requests from people you do not know.
- Do not share your home address, phone number, or travel plans publicly.
- If you receive an unusual message from a friend asking for money, call them on the phone to confirm before doing anything.
- Use a strong, unique password for each social media account.
The 3-Second Rule
Before posting, ask: "Would I be comfortable with a complete stranger seeing this?" If no — do not post it publicly.
Important Warning
"Romance scammers" target older adults on social media and dating sites. They build a relationship over weeks or months then ask for money. Never send money to someone you have only met online.