It’s Choose Privacy Week! It’s probably not printed on most calendars, but this week (developed by the American Library Association) is an important reminder for consumers to think critically and make more informed choices about their privacy. It can help prevent identity theft – and consequent debt. As a nonprofit credit counseling agency, we think this is a great initiative, and wanted to pitch in with some tips on privacy settings for social media.
American Consumer Credit Counseling wants to share tips for privacy settings.
How to Adjust Your Privacy Settings and Be Safe on Social Media
- Click the drop down menu (top right) and select “settings”.
- Select “privacy” from the left side menu.
- Choose your settings.
- You can also adjust other security settings by selecting “security” from the left side menu.
There are several levels of privacy that you can adjust in Facebook, from what information people can see, to who can send you a friend request, to how you can be found. Tinker around and set the privacy to your liking.
- Click on your profile icon (top right) and select “settings”.
- Select “security and privacy” from the left side menu.
- Choose your settings.
You can determine who can see your tweets, who can contact you, how you are found, and what information is shared about your account. This can help reduce the likelihood of identity theft.
- Open the app on your mobile device
- Click the user icon at the bottom right to view your profile.
- Click the 3 dots at the top right of your profile to access settings.
- Toggle between private or not private.
Instagram settings are pretty simple. Either everyone can see your photos, or only approved followers can.
Google+
- Select “settings” from the drop down menu at top left.
Similar to Facebook, you can adjust various levels of security for different pieces of information and photos on your profile. Tinker around and set the privacy to your liking.
- Click on your user icon at the top left and select “privacy & settings”.
- You can edit the information that is public on your account, and also if your activity is broadcast on the site.
The point of LinkedIn is to be seen and build your professional network. If that is your goal, then be sure not to set your privacy levels too high. Social media is all about sharing your personal ideas, content, creative work, and information, but everyone has their own boundaries and purposes for these accounts. Think about what you want to share and set your account privacy accordingly.
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
