Social media is part of daily life, but it’s also a magnet for scams, data leaks, and cyber threats. From identity theft to subtle data mining, your personal information is more vulnerable than you might think.
This guide walks through essential, up-to-date strategies to help you protect your privacy, whether you’re scrolling Instagram and TikTok, posting on Facebook, or chatting on SnapChat.
Why It Matters
Social platforms aren’t just digital playgrounds, they’re powerful data engines. What you like, where you go, what device you use, it’s all harvested. If left unprotected, that data can be misused not just by companies, but by hackers with malicious intent.
And all the information you share leaves you open. Kids names and date of births are common passwords, and the more it is out there the easier it is for identity fraud to happen.
And hijacking social media accounts is more common than you think. They can be used to:
- Give legitimacy and social proof by commenting on social media ads about how good products are.
- Send messages to your contacts with phishing links to get their login details.
- Facebook accounts might have admin access to pages or ad accounts that can be used for fraudulent ad spend.
Core Privacy Protections You Should Enable
Use Strong, Unique Passwords for Each Account
Passwords should be difficult to guess. That means employing a combination of letters, numbers, and other symbols, swapping out letters for special characters.
Of course, a password that’s difficult to guess is, almost by definition, also difficult to remember. For this reason, it’s often a good idea to use a password generator, to compose and store passwords on your behalf.
If you need to write down passwords, you can put them in a password protected document but these days it’s easier to just reset them.
Most phones use face ID so you’ll rarely use your password or remember it if you tried. So never reuse passwords across social media accounts. Ideally all accounts should have unique passwords, but at minimum you should use a different password for websites likely to get hacked, and something completely different for banking.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Adding an extra layer, like a one-time code or face scan, makes your account far more secure. Yes they are a pain, but not as much as losing your social media account.
Two-factor authentication is an order of magnitude more secure that single-factor authentication. While a hacker might be able to guess a password, they’re less likely to be able to compromise your phone and passwords at the same time.
Use apps like Google Authenticator rather than SMS, which can be spoofed. But SMS is better than nothing.
Please note, companies are getting better at having systems that only ask for 2FA is on a new device.
Review and Adjust Privacy Settings
Social media companies have access to your personal data, including your preferences and browsing behaviour. Given the value of this data, it’s important that you protect it, not just from other people on your chosen social media platform, but from the platform itself, too.
Privacy settings can sometimes be changed without warning. Make sure that you keep abreast of these changes, and that you review your settings whenever they occur.
Visit your settings regularly to:
- Limit who can see your posts
- Control app integrations
- Disable activity status or location sharing
Quick Links:
Tip: Putting a post up saying you don’t give consent to use your data will not do anything.
Be Cautious of Phishing Attempts
Phishing is the practice of impersonating a friendly person or organisation in order to extract personal information. It’s prevalent on social media, particularly through direct messages.
Look out for unsolicited messages, especially those containing links, or requests for personal data. Don’t reply to these, as doing so might flag you as willing to engage, instead, delete them, and report the account responsible.
Always be wary of anything generating urgency that takes you to a log-in page, which is the easiest way to capture your log-in details.
Tip: Read our guide on spotting phishing emails.
Regularly Monitor Your Accounts
If you don’t often log into your social media accounts, then it might take you a while to notice if those accounts become compromised. Log in every once in a while, and set up email notifications for when the account logs in from an unknown device.
Keep an eye on your social media accounts for any unusual activity, such as messages you didn’t send or posts you didn’t make. Promptly report any suspicious activity to the platform and take necessary actions to secure your account.
Hidden Dangers to Watch Out For
Location Tracking & Metadata Leaks
Photos can expose your location through metadata. Apps like Instagram may also tag your location automatically. Turn off GPS permissions unless absolutely needed.
Third-Party App Access
Avoid linking unknown games, quizzes, or services to your accounts. These apps often harvest more data than you realise.
Biometric Data Exposure
Face filters, fingerprint logins, and AI-enhanced effects may store your biometric data. This info is sensitive, treat it like a password.
Specific Privacy Protection: Know Your Rights
As a UK resident, you’re protected under UK GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), which gives you the right to:
- Request a copy of your data
- Ask for data to be corrected or deleted
- Object to certain types of processing
To take action, you can visit the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Checklist: Stay Safe on Social Media
| Action | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Use a password manager | Keeps accounts unique and hard to crack |
| Turn on 2FA | Stops most unauthorised logins |
| Review app permissions monthly | Avoids excessive data sharing |
| Turn off location tagging | Limits metadata exposure |
| Log out from public/shared devices | Prevents remote hijacking |
| Check devices linked to your accounts | Detects unknown logins |
| Use HaveIBeenPwned | See if your data has been leaked |
FAQs
What’s the best way to protect your Instagram account in 2025?
Start with strong passwords, enable 2FA, review third-party app access, and limit who can tag or message you. Use Instagram’s Privacy Checkup tool regularly.
How do I spot a phishing message on social media?
Be cautious with unsolicited links or prize offers. Phishing attempts often pretend to be customer support. If in doubt, don’t click. Instead, visit the platform’s official help centre.
Is your phone secure enough for social logins?
Use a reputable mobile security app and keep your OS updated. Avoid saving passwords in browsers, use a dedicated password manager instead.
Want to Go Further?
- Audit your accounts regularly
- Limit what’s visible publicly (bio, posts, comments)
- Be mindful of what you share, screenshots live forever
