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7 Subjects You Should Never Discuss on Social Media
Cybersecurity

7 Subjects You Should Never Discuss on Social Media

Social media platforms are a great place to gather and share information and experiences, but some information is better kept private. Many people like to avoid talking about religion and politics because those topics get heated, but it’s not just controversial subjects that should be avoided.

If you don’t already have a filter for what you post on social media, consider avoiding the following subjects.

1. Where your firearms are located

Most people won’t think twice when someone says they keep their automatic shotgun or 9mm pistol in the closet in their spare bedroom. Considering these bits of information are often shared within a broader context, the location of someone’s firearms isn’t usually notable. However, some people might start plotting a way to steal highly desirable firearms.

Although handguns are affordable, especially from dealers like Primary Arms, some people would rather steal. If you’re planning on buying a gun anytime soon, don’t discuss your plans for storing your firearm on social media. It’s okay to ask for ideas and advice, but don’t give anyone any indication as to the whereabouts of the firearm in your home.

You might think you’re safe because you don’t post your address online, but people can put together multiple pieces of information and find you just by looking at photos and old posts.

2. If you live alone

Do you live alone? If so, never disclose that to other people on social media. You never know who might be targeting you for criminal activity. It may not happen frequently, but people do seek out victims online and target them for a variety of crimes.

If you live alone, you may want to invent a reclusive roommate whom you never really see, but rents a room in your house and is always home working on their business. This will deter criminals who are only looking to prey on vulnerable people.

3. Your work schedule

Posting your work schedule gives criminals better insight into when and how they can break into your home or execute some other crime. When a criminal learns the times and days you leave the house, they might start planning to hit your house. It sounds far-fetched, but it happens all the time.

If you belong to community-centered groups on social media, the criminals in your neighborhood are likely lurking. If you post photos of your house, it’s going to be easy for them to find out where you live because they’ll know the area.

4. Where you live

Discussing your location will give people a foundation for finding you if they choose to later on. Or, someone might decide they want to find you and look through your old posts for clues about where you live.

Avoid mentioning your exact location, but also avoid talking about key establishments and landmarks that are nearby. Once someone identifies a landmark near you, it might help them narrow down your actual address. You’d be surprised at the lengths some people go to in order to find someone’s address.

5. Information about your kids

Another unlikely, but also realistic danger lurking on social media is the existence of pedophiles. There are many pedophiles who directly target children on social media, and sometimes they get access to them through their parents.

Avoid posting images and details about your kids, including what school they go to and when they get out of class. If you’re on Facebook, for example, and your kids are on your friends list, a predator might see their picture and try to find them at school. If the predator knows your name, they might try to convince your child you were in an accident and they were sent to pick them up from school.

6. Information about your finances

Finances may not seem like a big deal. Who cares if you make $50k or $500k per year? It seems insignificant, but criminals think differently. Anyone who boasts about making big bucks is likely to become a target. People with money usually have expensive things to steal.

7. Where you work

Last, but not least, never post information about where you work. It’s tempting to discuss your work with people online, but it’s not worth the risk. You never know when someone might stalk you or use your information to cause some kind of problem.

If you ever catch someone in a scam on Craigslist, for example, that person might dig up your information and retaliate or threaten you.

Social media is fun, but be cautious

You don’t have to hold back everything on social media, but be cautious. If there’s no reason to give out specifics, be vague. It’s better to be saf

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