The safe use of social media |04 August 2018
Offered a tempting loan by a high ranking government official recently? Or perhaps having your Facebook account cloned as a result of clicking on that “free offer” link? Those are situations that you may have gone through or know of someone who has. These are the kind of risks that one is exposed to while using social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp. It is important as a social media user that you are aware of the many ways to stay safe while using these platforms. We have compiled the top 3 ways by which you can keep yourself safe while using the social media houses.
Should I have a password?
Passwords are essential to ensure that you are the only one accessing your social media profile or page. It is therefore important that you choose a unique and strong password. Depending on the social media platform it is advisable that you use a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters in your password. Avoid using birthdates, name of family members or pets and anniversaries as passwords. Where applicable do make use of the 2-factor authentication for the social media platforms. Storing your password on your device or in your wallet is never a good idea. It is also recommended that you do not use the same password for different social media platforms. In the event that you are using a public computer (work/internet café/library etc.) ensure that your password is not automatically saved on the web browser and that you always log out of the social media platform. If you are using your mobile device (mobile phone/tablet) to access the social media platforms, please ensure that it is password protected.
How to have total control of my social Network
As social media users you get to meet a lot of people online. You may come across some old friends and family members or stay in contact with current friends and family. However, you will often get to meet new people online. Thus it is advisable that you ensure that you know the person who sent you the friend request or the random number who sent you a text through WhatsApp. It is strongly recommended that you accept friend requests only from people you know and in the event that you receive a friend request from one of your friends that you suspect can be a cloned or duplicated profile please cancel the friend request and report it to Facebook or block the number on WhatsApp. It is okay to cancel a friend request or choose not to reply to a WhatsApp message of a number that you do not know. So do not feel pressured to accept a friend request or answer a Whatsapp message. If you do have friends that you are not sure of in your friend list do unfriend or block them.
Safe social media engagement
Social media platforms are a great environment to engage with the larger community but you should do so safely. Look out for posts that does not sound like something your friend would post and un-tag yourself if you are tagged in a post and do not click on any suspicious links. Avoid posting too much personal information. It is okay to engage with your friends through chats and posts but avoid giving out any personal details such as:
- Contact Numbers
- Physical Address
- Names of family members/pets
- Whereabouts
- Bank details
Some businesses are using the social media platform to grow their business environment. However, if you choose to buy anything from the sellers on the social media platforms do undertake proper research and verify the details of the seller. It is advisable that you ensure that you have established reliable contact with the seller and that you know the seller before engaging in any business.Verify and enquire about too good to be true offers. Do not carry out any financial transactions with someone you do not know.
These are just a few ways to stay safe while using the social media. It is up to you to use the social media platforms cautiously and to stay up to date with the security features put in place by the social media platforms.
Contributed by DICT