Hello <<First Name>>,
With the lockdown of the past year, it may be that you and your family members have relied on Social Media to stay connected. Now that there is a promise of things opening up and the possibility of travel and other activities, it’s good to get a refresher on how to keep you and your family safe on social media.
Revealing information about your homelife, travel plans and daily habits can create an opening for crime to your home or family. Shrewd people posing as trusted neighbors may lure family members into crimes and scams.
Having been watching the Nextdoor app and other social media sites for the past few years, I have noticed that there is a myriad of information being posted about political, safety and neighborhood topics that may not be factual or safe. Members want to trust the vetting process of the site and believe that all these people are their neighbors, but we can never know for sure if the vetting process is keeping us safe. Further, the social media sites continue to open up the spectrum so that more people can see your information, which limits your ability to know that there is a trusted person reading your post or profile information.
We need to take action to watch what we post in order to best protect ourselves from becoming a victim of crime or bullying. Take time with your family to discuss the rules that you will implement about managing your social media so that everyone is safe.
12 Tips to Keep You and Your Family Safe on Social Media
 Keep your personal presence under cover:
- Limit the personal information you post about your hobbies, location, address and other identifying information.
- Have your profile locked down so only those whom you want to see your information are able.
- Check your profile regularly, since platforms tend to change and open up visibility of your information.
- Limit the information you provide about your children.
Keep your comings and goings private
- Don’t post announcements of upcoming travel or photos while you’re on travel. Post photos and info upon your return.
- Don’t post specific address information about crimes. Make sure crimes are reported to police first and then you can alert neighborhoods.
- If you are selling or buying, make keep your information private until you have established a level of trust. Verify that you have contact information that is reliable in case you need to follow-up.
- If possible, do sale or meeting in a public place instead of your home. If you must go to a home or have it at your home, ensure you have a buddy with you.
Take all posts with a grain of salt
- Not everything being posted is true or accurate. There are some people who have misinterpreted facts or have other agendas.
- Go to a reliable source to confirm posts on social media.
Be an example of good behavior
- Provide posts that are kind, positive, uplifting and accurate.
- Provide links or sources for the information. It’s nice to have a date in the title so it is easy to see when the post was made if the post is date-sensitive.
Other Resources for Social Media Safety:
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Be Aware, Be Prepared, Be Safe!