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Encouraging Heroes. You can be one too.

In today’s world, almost everyone uses a form of social media. It doesn’t matter if you’re just a casual browser or avid poster, it’s important to safeguard what information you release. Before posting anything on a blog, Twitter, Facebook, or any other social media platform, ask yourself the questions below to help safeguard your personal information.

1 – Are you comfortable with the world seeing this?
Today, photos and videos can go viral in just minutes; all it takes is a simple “click here” and it’s been shared. It’s easy to become complacent and post things without carefully thinking, but you always need to remember that nothing posted on social media is private. Only post photos, videos, and information you’re okay with the entire world seeing; otherwise, keep it to yourself. Even if you have a private profile, there are ways of your information getting spread around.

2 – Can this information be used to steal my identity?
Just a minimal amount of information can be used to steal your identity. Never post passwords, information about your bank, your address, or phone number. For more information about posting online and identity theft, you can look here:https://www.lexingtonlaw.com/blog/identity-theft/facebook-privacy-identity-theft-page-advertised-2.html.

3 – Can it hurt future career options for anyone?
While posting funny photos of yourself or children could seem like a good idea, carefully consider if the content could hurt future career options for either yourself, your children, or other family members. More and more, employers are searching through social media as part of the interview process; it’s important to avoid posting something that could be held against you or someone you love later on. Stick to G rated photos. That photo of you drinking at a party or even your naked baby butt could come back to haunt you in the future.

4 – Does it give away your location?
Thieves are on constant patrol looking for easy prey. No one should ever post vacation plans or their address. Additionally, avoid sharing information about recent major purchases such as electronics, event tickets, or collectibles; doing so is an invitation for theft. Be conscious about what you post. Posting a picture of your home, don’t let your address become visible. Many people like to review products or other items they have ordered online. When doing this make sure that you remove your address from the box before sharing pictures or videos of it with the world.

5 – Does it put your children in danger?
Predators don’t just stalk playgrounds anymore, and parents need to be on-guard. Never post pictures of your children in any state of undress, information about your child’s school, or share details about their schedule. Finally, check that settings on shared photos only allow the necessary people to view them. Identity thieves often target children’s information, because no one is monitoring their credit. If you suspect you or your child’s personal information may have been stolen, you can click here for more information about credit repair and identity restoration.

It may seem like a lot of work initially; however, if you constantly ask yourself these questions, they will quickly become second nature to you. No matter what, it’s always important to remember that you can’t ever completely delete something after it’s been shared; be careful what you post in the first place.

Earnest Parenting: help for parents who want to protect themselves online.