Check out These 4 Location Sharing Do’s and Don’ts
People love "checking-in" on Instagram, Periscope, and Facebook. But if you reveal too much info about your location, your safety could be compromised.
In 2017, location sharing is a prevalent feature of online life. It has gotten to the point where users will hit the “tag location” button without giving their actions a second thought. While keeping your friends and family updated about your life is a lovely gesture, it’s important that you exercise caution on public social media platforms. You may choose to make all of your social media profiles private and be selective about who you connect with online.
Location sharing can lead to dangerous consequences if individuals with malicious motives are following you. Unfortunately, this is becoming a trend — hackers are now stalking victims on social media to learn more about them so that they can carry out a more effective attack. That’s why you need to know the unofficial rules for sharing your whereabouts online. Keep reading to find out the do’s and don’ts of location tagging.
Read More: How to Stop Android Apps from Accessing Your Location
Don’t: Tag a Personal Location
Never disclose your home address, school, or even your place of work. You’d be amazed how easily someone could track you down with this information. So, you should never share these items publicly. This rule also applies to your loved ones. It’s important to protect their safety too, especially when it comes to children, the elderly, and other vulnerable parties.
Do: Share Where You Ordered a Delicious Meal
Location tagging should only be used for light-hearted, trivial things, like when you have an amazing meal at that new restaurant. This information is quite harmless when posted online. Also, it can benefit your small, local businesses. After all, you’re giving them a free endorsement! Go ahead and tag as many food photos as you’d like.
Don’t: Tell People When You’re Not at Home
If you’re on a tropical vacation miles and miles from home, it could be best to keep that information quiet. After all, thieves and criminals often patrol social media, looking for their next target. Don’t let them know that you’ll be away from the house for a month! You can never be too careful when it comes to online safety. Also, when you’re on a road trip, it’s never prudent to post your location, especially if you’re stopping regularly at motels and rest stops. Someone could easily trace your movements.
Do: Upload Photos After Your Trip
When you’re back at home, then by all means, post all your vacation photos! Perhaps, go the extra mile and specify that those beach selfies are from last week. Your photos will look nicer when they’re neatly organized in one Facebook album, anyway.