7 things you should not share on social network Facebook

In this age of information explosion, some people don't think about what they share on Facebook. However, there are some things you should not share on Facebook.

1. Contact information and basic information

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Never share your personal information (e.g. phone number, email, and date of birth) on Facebook. Sharing such information can expose your privacy to unwanted solicitations and spam. It is also a security risk because cybercriminals and other bad actors can use the information to commit fraud in your name.

2. Family and relationships

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Just as you keep your contact information private, keep details about your family and relationships private. It's easy for someone to spy on your Facebook profile and direct unwanted attention to your family and friends.

If you don't want to be the reason they get harassed or stalked, keep this information private.

3. Travel plan

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Facebook lets you post your travel plans as a life event, including dates and locations. But that could make your home a target and put your family at risk.

Don't share your travel plans, but you can share your travel memories after you return home. This is considered safe.

4. Location

Facebook's Check-In feature lets you post location pins when you arrive at a variety of locations, including cities, towns, restaurants, parks, and landmarks. This is a great way to let your friends know where you are, especially if you want to meet them there.

However, never use Check-In for the same reason you shouldn't post your travel plans - thieves. Also, people generally don't like strangers watching their movements, especially when they're doing something important.

If you want people to know where you are, say it directly, text it, or pin your location to their direct messages.

5. Friends list

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Do you ever get a lot of weird friend requests on Facebook from people you don't know? They send requests because they see a common connection in your friend list. So keep your friend list private.

Furthermore, scammers can access your friend list to find potential victims. By hiding your list, you can protect your network from being targeted through social engineering tactics.

6. Children's photos

Children, especially babies, are adorable. It's understandable that people want to share that with the world. But never post pictures of children on Facebook for one reason: We live in the age of AI.

Anyone can take photos of children and use them to create convincing deepfakes. Deepfakes are AI-manipulated images and videos that mimic real people and objects to harm or deceive. No one wants the deepfake photos they post of a child to end up somewhere in the dark, shadowy corners of the internet.

Posting photos of a child can make them a target for cyberbullying or stalking.

7. Personal goals

People post their personal goals on Facebook for many good reasons, including accountability, motivation, support, self-expression, and positive reinforcement. However, never post your goals on social media because there is one major downside – the act of posting and getting lots of likes and comments can lead to premature gratification.

This can kill motivation because it can trick your brain into thinking you've achieved your goal. Do things that help you stay focused, like using an app that helps you achieve your goals.

While Facebook is a great platform to connect with friends and share experiences, it is important to be mindful of what you show others. Be selective about the content you share to protect your privacy, safety, and mental health, which are all extremely important in our digital age.

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Marvin Fry

Update 09 December 2024