Written by In today’s hyper-connected world, sharing our lives online has become second nature. From holiday snapshots to professional achievements, we broadcast our moments with little thought about who might be watching. While social media has created incredible opportunities for connection, oversharing comes with serious risks, particularly concerning privacy, security, and personal safety.
Understanding Oversharing
Oversharing is the act of disclosing excessive personal information online. This can range from posting your daily routine to inadvertently revealing sensitive data such as your home address, financial details, or real-time location. Many users are unaware that each seemingly harmless post adds to their digital footprint, making them vulnerable to cyber threats.
Privacy Risks
Every piece of information shared online contributes to your digital identity. Cybercriminals exploit this information through:
- Identity theft: Personal details can be used to impersonate you and access financial accounts.
- Social engineering attacks: Hackers gather information to manipulate victims into divulging further sensitive data.
- Doxxing: Publicly exposing someone’s private information with malicious intent.
Professional Repercussions
What you post online can impact your career. Employers increasingly review social media profiles before hiring. A careless tweet or controversial post could cost you a job opportunity. Additionally, sharing workplace-related information without considering confidentiality policies can result in disciplinary action.
Personal Safety Concerns
Real-time location sharing can make you an easy target for:
- Stalkers: Posting your location gives malicious individuals a roadmap to your whereabouts.
- Burglars: Announcing your holiday plans online informs criminals that your home is vacant.
- Unwanted tracking: Social media check-ins can make it easy for strangers to monitor your movements.
How to Protect Yourself Online
1. Limit Personal Information
Be mindful of what you share. Avoid posting addresses, phone numbers, and financial details. When filling out online profiles, restrict access to only necessary information.
2. Adjust Privacy Settings
Regularly review and update privacy settings on social media platforms. Ensure that personal posts are only visible to trusted individuals and not the public.
3. Think Before You Post
Before sharing, consider the potential long-term impact. Ask yourself:
- Would I be comfortable with my employer seeing this?
- Could this post be used against me?
- Am I revealing too much personal information?
4. Avoid Real-Time Location Sharing
Turn off geotagging features on social media and avoid posting your exact location in real-time. If you must share, do so after you have left the location.
As an avid photographer, geotagging can be heaven sent for organising your photos. But when you upload those photos to social media platforms, these elements are also included in the metadata. This isn’t legally considered “personal information” and can be used to track your movements. So make sure you switch these off!
5. Be Cautious with Online Friends
Not everyone on the internet has good intentions. Be wary of accepting friend requests or engaging in conversations with strangers who seem overly interested in your personal life.
Do you know how easy it is to imitate people online with AI? This is what professionals can use – but it’s getting better every day. You can now imagine what anyone with an online presence needs to be concerned about. Furthermore… think about your banking biometrics.
6. Monitor Your Digital Footprint
Conduct regular Google searches of your name to see what information is publicly available. If necessary, adjust privacy settings or request removal of sensitive data from platforms.
7. Use Strong Security Measures
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all important accounts. Use unique, strong passwords for each platform to prevent unauthorised access.
Staying Safe In The Long Term
While sharing moments online can be enjoyable, it’s important to maintain control over your digital presence. Oversharing can lead to privacy breaches, security threats, and even real-world dangers. By adopting mindful online habits, you can protect yourself while still enjoying the benefits of social media. Be smart, be selective, and always think twice before you post.
These blog posts are part of my ongoing effort to improve the world in the dawning of AI for the everyday people. I will have a series of privacy posts including pointing to some of the sources I rely on – so you can follow the experts in that domain.
If you’d like assistance or advice with your Data Governance implementation, or any other topic (Privacy, Cybersecurity, Ethics, AI and Product Management) please feel free to drop me an email here and I will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can reach out to me on LinkedIn and I will get back to you within the same day!
Nigel D'Souza 