In this day and age, social media platforms are riddled with traps and minefields that can lead to data leakage and the spread of misinformation. For instance, during the pandemic, there was an abundance of information that sent out incorrect messages that ultimately turned out to be harmful to the community of users. For instance, a theory went around social media that promoted injecting disinfectant as a treatment to deal with COVID.
Other Helpful Tips to Consider
Make sure to use different, secure passwords for each social media account. Avoid using words that are easy to guess or personal information in your passwords, and think about using a password manager to create and store secure passwords.
Enable two-factor authentication. The majority of social networking sites offer two-factor authentication, which increases account security by requiring a code to be delivered to your phone or email in addition to your password.
Keep your sharing to yourself: before posting sensitive or personal information on social media, consider it. Your name and contact information are all included in this. Even financial data can sometimes be found here, so it is important to be extra cautious.
Watch out for scams and suspicious activity: be wary of suspicious links or messages, and never click on a link from an unknown source. For anything suspicious, report it to the social media platform or delete it immediately.
Harms of Social Media
However, it goes beyond simply defending your online persona. It’s also critical to be aware of the risks and addictions that can result from excessive usage of social media. Excessive social media use has been linked to low self-esteem, and even depressive symptoms, according to recent studies. In a survey, 62% of users claimed that they use the hide feature on Facebook and Instagram as they are insecure about their social media presence. In addition, users may experience discomfort or withdrawal when unable to access their social media accounts due to the potential for addiction.
It’s crucial to be aware of your social media usage and establish boundaries for yourself to prevent these potential negative effects. This can entail restricting the amount of time you spend on social media or designating specific times of day to check your accounts. It’s also a good idea to regularly log off of social media and do something else, like spend time with friends and family or pursue interests and hobbies.
Another danger is the potential for the spread of misinformation. Social media platforms can be used to spread false or misleading information quickly and widely, and it can be difficult for users to differentiate between reliable sources and propaganda or hoaxes. This can lead to the proliferation of conspiracy theories and other harmful or dangerous beliefs.
In recent years, there have been numerous examples of the spread of misinformation on social media, including instances where false information has contributed to the spread of diseases like COVID-19.
“Monitoring of school teaching online.” (CC BY 2.0) by shixart1985
