Careful what you post on the internet... and what ads you reply to... (2024)

FAQs

Why should you be careful of what you post online? ›

Content shared on the internet is never deleted. It is out there, waiting to be found. Even though you may have deleted content from your profile, you don't know who has already seen it and/or stored it. You and other users of that site might not be able to see the deleted info, but it's still stored somewhere.

Carefully consider whether to post your personal information or photos, because they affect your reputation in public. Remember that anything you post online has a chance of staying online forever. Take control of your privacy.

It is essential to protect your personal identification information, such as your full name, address, phone number, email, and date of birth, from being shared on social media. This information can be used by hackers and identity thieves to gain access to your accounts and steal your identity.

The information that you share can have legal implications (POPIA) if you do not have permission to share it. People that search for you online create an opinion about who you are based on what you post. The information you post can be found and can affect your future education and career goals.

Disable location data and delete photo metadata before posting to protect your physical address and sensitive information. Avoid sharing personally-identifying information, such as your full date of birth or photos of important documents, to prevent identity theft and unauthorized access to your accounts.

Harassment, hate speech, threats of violence, ruining someone's reputation and pictures or comments suggesting illegal activity can all be used against you.

For 68% of respondents, sharing is about showing other people what they care about and who they are, whether it's to their followers, their friends, or the world at large. Sharing content becomes a performative act—one in which the primary focus is self-description.

Answer: Posting an inappropriate or controversial comment on the internet can have several negative consequences: 1. **Damage to Reputation:** Such comments can harm your personal or professional reputation, as they may be seen by friends, family, colleagues, employers, and potential employers.

No, it is not good to post everything on social media. Social media is a great way to connect with people, but it's important to use it responsibly. Posting too much can be overwhelming for followers, and can make them feel like they are bombarded with information.

Is it OK to avoid social media? ›

Absolutely. Some research suggests that social media is harming us in several ways. But that doesn't mean it's all bad and cutting it off entirely could have both positive and negative effects on your life.

Studies also suggest, however, that heavy social media use may cause harm, contributing to anxiety, body dysmorphia, disordered eating, self-harm and depression.

Thinking before you post can spare you some embarrassment and future backlash. It can also work wonders for business if used in the right way. Here are some things to consider when posting to social media: Think carefully about what others may find offensive.

Openness: For people high in openness, their social media use is likely to reflect their interests. They spend more time using social media as a way to seek information, to talk about their work, or to play games. Neuroticism: Neurotic individuals tend to be more active on social media, much like extraverts.

Although when you like your own post on social media, it's like patting your own beck. It's implicit to say, when you share something, you've already liked it and that's why you wanted to share it at first place. So, it's ok if you like your own content, but it'll be better if you don't. Choice is yours!

This phrase serves as a reminder to individuals to be cautious and discerning in their online activities to avoid falling victim to phishing attacks and other cyber threats. Many cyber attacks, especially phishing, rely on tricking individuals into clicking on malicious links or downloading infected attachments.

The golden rule of netiquette boils down to one basic guideline: Do not do or say online what you would not do or say offline. 1 Before posting a comment, status update, or image, ask yourself if you would feel comfortable sharing the same thing face-to-face. If not, don't post it.

Ask yourself: What is your personal brand? What are your goals in terms of your personal brand? And, how does this post align with those goals? If it feels out of character or inappropriate, maybe it's not worth posting.