Your feed is a goldmine for advertisers, hackers, and strangers
Social media platforms have changed how we connect with others, but they’ve also become data-harvesting machines. Every like, photo, and comment contributes to a digital profile that companies, governments, and even malicious actors can exploit.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to quit social media to reclaim your privacy. With just a few changes to how and what you post, you can stay visible to your friends without exposing your life to the entire internet.
This guide will show you how to post smarter, limit what’s shared automatically, and protect yourself from being profiled online.
1. Lock down your privacy settings first
Most platforms make your content public by default. That’s where exposure starts.
What to do (per platform):
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Facebook:
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Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Privacy
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Set your default post audience to Friends, not Public.
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Turn off Face Recognition and Location History
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Instagram:
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Switch to a Private Account
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Under Settings > Privacy, limit who can tag, mention, or message you
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X (formerly Twitter):
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Make your account private in Settings > Privacy and Safety
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Disable location tagging and turn off personalized ads
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Review these settings every 3–6 months platforms change often.
2. Don’t post real-time location updates
That beach selfie you just posted? You also told the world you’re not at home. For stalkers or burglars, that’s gold.
Safer options:
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Wait until you’ve left the location before posting.
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Avoid tagging your exact location (use general cities or no tag)
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On Instagram and Facebook, manually remove location metadata from photos
iPhone users: Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Camera and set to Never
3. Think before you share life events
Major life announcements (new job, moving, relationship changes) feed data brokers and scammers.
Tips:
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Share selectively: consider telling close friends in DMs instead.
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Avoid showing identifiable info in images (addresses, name badges, school logos)
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Skip the “security question clues” like “My first car,” pet names, or your mom’s maiden name.
Remember: Hackers love using your posts to answer your password recovery questions.
4. Scrub metadata from your images
Even if you avoid geotagging, your phone might embed metadata in every photo GPS coordinates, camera details, and more.
What to do:
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On iPhone, go to Photos > select photo > info (i) and manually remove location.
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Use free tools like ExifTool or metapho (iOS app) to wipe metadata
This prevents strangers from tracing where the photo was taken, even if it’s not obvious.
5. Limit audience for past posts
Even if you’re careful now, your old posts might still leak private details.
On Facebook:
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Go to Settings > Privacy > Limit Past Posts.
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This resets all public posts to Friends only
On Instagram:
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Archive or delete older posts that show sensitive data or identifiable routines
Do a content audit every 6 months; old posts age badly in a digital world.
6. Don’t overshare in stories or reels
Stories are temporary, but screenshots are forever.
Safer posting habits:
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Avoid showing your full home, routine, or children’s faces.
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Use “Close Friends” lists for private stories on Instagram.
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Avoid sharing your current schedule (e.g., gym times, travel plans)
Platforms like TikTok and Snapchat are known for leaky privacy settings, so double-check every time you post.
7. Say no to facial recognition
Some platforms use facial recognition to suggest tags or even store your facial data.
What to do:
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Facebook: Go to Settings > Face Recognition > No
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Avoid using auto-tagging features on Instagram and Google Photos.
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Refrain from uploading high-res selfies to public accounts
If you use AI photo tools or filters, read their privacy policies many store your face in datasets.
8. Use pseudonyms or limited profiles when possible
If you’re posting in forums, niche groups, or fan pages, use a separate identity from your main social account.
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Reddit, Mastodon, and private Discord groups allow pseudonyms.
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Use burner email accounts for registrations.
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Avoid linking your real name, face, and opinions together
This protects you from being doxxed or targeted for something you posted years ago.
Curate, don’t broadcast
Your digital life doesn’t need to disappear, but it should be intentional. Every post adds to your digital footprint, and each one should pass a quick test:
“Would I mind if this were public forever?”
With a few changes in habits, privacy settings, and how you think about content, you can stay social and stay safe.
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