If we say that nowadays we are practically incapable of living a whole day without keeping an eye on social networks, we are not far from the truth. Photos of animals, knowing what your friends are doing because they post stories of their daily activities, or receiving headlines in tweets are some of the benefits of checking in on social networks, although not everything is rosy while using them.
Because of all this, everyone without exception can end up exposed to the dangers of social networks. For this reason, in this article, we will try to collect the main current dangers in the world of social networks. Mainly referring to Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok and how we can avoid falling into the trap.
Main risks of social networks
How many times have we seen minors using social networks with their parent’s consent, when on paper, minors shouldn’t be able to access social networks? But, beyond the risks for children that are present on these sites, adults can also suffer the consequences of the misuse of these platforms.
However, let’s take a look at the main dangers of social networks such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, among others. Several documentaries highlight the seduction mechanisms of social networks, both for adults and minors.
Cyberbullying
Contrary to the above, there are unfortunately millions of people in the world whose lives have been changed for the worse by having joined a social network. Thus, minors can be prevented from creating an account and avoiding the dangers of social networks. And, if they do want to create one, they should keep in mind the possibility of adjusting the privacy level, so that only certain people can see the activity on their profiles and other users cannot access confidential or sensitive information.
How does Facebook use our personal information?
All social networks have a set of terms of use and a privacy policy that you should read before agreeing to. Posting a photo, posting something, or sharing personal information and hobbies on Facebook can leave a digital footprint.
In addition, you allow your public profile data to be sold in exchange for displaying personalized advertising. Another clear example is when you download an app and give personal information to the company that owns it, which makes money in part by selling the personal data it collects from users like you and me.
Problems with phishing, malware, and other online crimes
This involves getting access to the login details of an email account or other platform to intrude into your inbox and manipulate the information contained therein, in exchange for offering a supposedly free download of software that the user has, most likely, previously sought.
Fake news on social networks
Also known as hoaxes, in recent years the emergence of fake news has changed the opinion of millions of people on any subject that is widely disseminated.
As a final recommendation, set the privacy settings on your profiles so that only your family and friends can see your information. Avoid posting personal details or your holiday plans. As for TikTok, be careful about the reliability of the links you receive, as they may contain malware.
Interesting Related Article: “8 Tips To Enhance Your Social Media Presence“