Take control of your privacy on social media
Social platforms are built to share everything by default. A short settings review puts you back in charge of who sees your life.
You do not have to quit social media to protect yourself. A focused review of your settings, once, gives you back control.
1. Decide who can see your posts
The most important setting is your default audience. Set posts to Friends only — or make the whole account private — rather than Public. Many platforms also offer a "limit past posts" button for everything you shared before.
2. Trim your public profile
Even with private posts, parts of your profile may stay public. Remove your full birth date, phone number, home town, employer, and email — exactly the pieces scammers and identity thieves collect. Think twice before posting real-time locations, boarding passes, your children's school, or answers to common security questions.
3. Control tagging
Turn on tag review so you approve tags before they appear on your profile, and switch off face-recognition features where offered.
4. Cut down ad tracking
- Turn off personalised ads where allowed
- Stop the platform using data from partners and other websites about you
- Disconnect third-party apps you once logged in with but no longer use
5. Turn off location history
Check whether the app records your location in the background. Set location access to "While using the app" or off, and delete stored location history.
Do a yearly check-up
Platforms change their settings and defaults often. Spend ten minutes once a year re-checking the above — most big platforms offer a guided "Privacy Check-up" tool. And the single most protective habit is free: simply share a little less publicly. See also your digital footprint.