Spooky Social Media

AIT Security Blog Keith Wicker

This week we’re covering the scary world of social media! Here are 7 things to keep in mind while you scroll…

There is No Delete Button

While you can delete a photo or post on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, you cannot delete it from the memory of anyone who has already seen or shared it.

Twitter actually states-

Tweets may be cached or cross-posted on third-party websites, applications, or search engines. We cannot remove Tweets that are not on twitter.com, Twitter for iOS, or Twitter for Android.
How to delete a Tweet (twitter.com)

Meaning if someone shares, screenshots and shares, or copies and pastes your tweet somewhere that is not Twitter, you likely will not be able to remove that content. Some content may not even be deleted when delete the post.

According to Facebook’s Help Center-

When you choose to delete something you shared on Facebook, we remove it from the site. Some of this information is permanently deleted from our servers; however, some things can only be deleted when you permanently delete your account.
What happens to content (posts, pictures) that I delete from Facebook? | Facebook Help Center

Privacy Settings

Always check and update your privacy settings! Change the settings on your accounts to your comfort level, not the platforms’. Click the links below for steps on how to change your settings on each platform:

We also highly encourage turning off geotagging. Geotagging is tagging or adding location information to your posts and photos. This can allow viewers of your posts to see where you were when you posted your content.

Click the buttons below for device-specific directions:

Turn off geotagging on your iPhone

Turn off geotagging on your Android

Know your Connections

Connect only with people you know and trust.

While some social networks might seem safer for connecting because of the limited personal information shared through them, you should still keep your connections to those you can verify.

Sharing is Not Caring

What many people don’t realize is that some seemingly random details are all that criminals need to know to target you, your loved ones, and your physical belongings—online and in the real world.

Howstuffworks.com has a list of 10 things you should never share on social media:

Anything You Don’t Want Shared
Password Hints
Your Password
Personal Finance Information
Your Address and Phone Number
Photos of Kids
Company Information
Linking Sites
Social Plans
Personal Conversations

Disable location services (another term for geotagging) that allow anyone to see where you are—and where you aren’t—at any given time.

Speak Up

Speak up if you’re uncomfortable. If a friend posts something about you that makes you uncomfortable or you think is inappropriate, let them know. Likewise, stay open-minded if a friend approaches you because something you’ve posted makes them uncomfortable. People have different tolerances for how much the world knows about them, and it is important to respect those differences. Don’t hesitate to report any instance of cyberbullying you see.

Report Everything

Report suspicious or harassing activity. Work with your social media platform to report and possibly block harassing users.

Report an incident if you’ve been a victim of cybercrime. Local and national authorities are ready to assist you.