As the use of social media and social networking has grown, those who use such platforms have – knowingly or unknowingly – exposed themselves in ways that may potentially compromise their privacy, safety and security.
Over the years, the Las Cruces Police Department has received reports of stalking, harassment and cyber bullying via various social media sites.
The Las Cruces Police Department offers these tips when utilizing social media platforms:
- Remember, there is no such thing as completely private. If you don’t want someone to see or hear about it, avoid posting it on social media.
- Avoid posting personal identifiable information such as complete birthdates.
- Avoid posting residential or work-place addresses, and regular travel routes or routines (such as exercise times/locations or running routes).
- Avoid using geo-location or geo-tracking apps and services that pinpoint your location.
- Ask friends and house guests to refrain from using geo-tracking apps and ‘tagging’ you.
- Do not accept ‘friend’ requests from someone you don’t know or trust.
- Review privacy settings on social media platforms and set them according to your wishes. On Facebook, for example, a ‘Friend of a Friend’ can view your profile and posts without having to ‘friend’ you.
- Remember that photos posted to social media can easily be saved by someone else and used maliciously.
- Keep professional and personal social media accounts separate. For example, some women and individuals in high-visibility positions maintain separate social media accounts for business and personal use.
- Avoid posting travel and vacation plans. Burglars, for instance, have been known to use social media to their advantage in identifying vacant homes.
- Inform family and new users of social media that the best way to communicate personal information is through private messaging or email, and not on your public page.
- Remember that online quizzes and games are oftentimes used to gain user information (by advertisers or a potential stalker). Avoid providing personal details that could identify your address, workplace, the name of your favorite pet or your mother’s maiden name as many of those answers are oftentimes used as online security questions).
- If you are harassed or bullied on social media, it’s important that you clearly inform the offender that you want his/her behavior to immediately stop. Do not continue to exchange in banter or any form of communication which would lead the offender to believe you are a willing participant.
- Report such harassment or bullying to administrators of the social media site.
- Keep records (screen-save if needed) of the offensive communication.
- If the harassment of bulling continues, call your local law enforcement agency and file a report.