Last week, at the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce’s Annual General Meeting, I was fortunate to hear a speech given by Katherine Thompson, of the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA Alliance). She discussed the importance of education and action regarding cyber security, as well as potential breaches of personal privacy.
Katherine’s discussion emphasized to me that people need to be continually reminded and updated about personal privacy online. It also reminded me of this popular video from 2012:
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When was the last time you checked your privacy settings on Facebook?
Not sure where to start? Check to see what you’re sharing publicly, which means with all friends and non-friends (e.g. the public). On your Facebook cover photo, click the ellipsis […].
This will allow you to view your profile as the public sees it, meaning people you have not “friended” on Facebook.
Scroll through your Timeline to see what you’ve shared, and take inventory of anything you would like removed, including photos, videos, and links.
Visit your About Section, and see what ‘personal information,’ including work places, education, contact information, and life events you’ve shared. Take note of what “Family and Relationships” you’ve included. It is risky to include too much information about personal relationships.
Finally, check the privacy on your Friend list. The privacy should be set to “Only Me.” This will protect both you and your friends in the event your account is compromised. Furthermore, take a moment to review your Friend list! Are these people actually your friends? Do you feel comfortable sharing your personal information with these people? If not, don’t feel bad when you click “Unfriend.”
Remember, it is not required to share personal information (e.g. family members, anniversaries, graduation dates, and places of employment) on social media. Though social media platforms will continually prompt you to “update your profile” and “add additional details,” you do not have to if you are uncomfortable doing so. Moreover, take time to regularly review your friend list, connections, and followers.
© Copyright JBC Pushing Digital Boundaries
1 Comment
Great info…”… Thanks