People today spend lots of time on social media. More recently, with it becoming a major part of life, teens have been constantly sharing details of their day to day lives. 

     While many people don’t realize it, teens have been sharing lots of information on the internet. With lots of free time, sharing about events or general posting can be damaging. Lots of problems can occur while posting seemingly innocent things on the internet.

      Microsoft Support says that, “Posting photos from the trip you’re currently on could alert criminals that you’re currently out of town.” Posting things such as posting your summer vacation or simply your weekend trip can let people with ill intentions know about your whereabouts and the lack of security at your home while you’re away. This also applies to sharing your location on apps. 

     Sometimes you overshare without even knowing that you’re doing it. Answering questions from followers in things like Q&As on your story can give away more information than you think. According to Microsoft Support, “What was the name of your first pet?” or “Where did you go to high school?” are common security questions that attackers can frequently find the answers to with a simple social media search on their target.”

     Problems can also occur when it comes to things like job applications or college admissions. College Reality Check says, “Colleges can see posts on social media, such as Snapchat, Instagram, or TikTok, if the accounts are not set to private. Up to 25% of college admissions officers check out applicants’ social media presence. Sometimes, they do so if anonymous third parties report troubling online posts by applicants.”

     When posting as a high schooler, you may want to be cautious if you have public accounts that may be flagged for not following guidelines or posting something that may be seen by potential college administrators or job hirers. Posting things like reckless behavior or hateful words can make job hirers not want to hire you for the things you say and do. 

     According to New Digital Age, “4 in 5 people are still oversharing personal data on social media.” This doesn’t only go for teens as well. Adults can overshare just as much as teens. Sharing things relating to their personal lives or their children’s lives puts whole families at risk. 

     So next time you think about sharing something on your public social media, you could make your account private to only your friends or only share specific things with close friends and family. While it may be tempting to share your location or where you’re on vacation, think about who might be able to see that information and what they could do with it.