How can I protect my privacy on social media?

[Aria]

Does it matter if I have personal information on Facebook and Twitter? And if so, how do I make sure that my personal details are safe?

[jotacar]

I'm afraid that you can't. The reason that you are allowed to make free use of those
programs is that they constantly comb through your details, and build up a profile of
you - what you are interested in, what you'll spend money on, etc.

Then they sell whatever they have found out about you to various businesses that
come after you with advertising, whenever you're on line. When you get emails from
people and businesses that you have never heard of, it is one of the social media
sites that has sold your address to them.

These sites are in business to make millions of dollars selling our personal
information to whoever will pay for it.

[OAIC]

Social media is a great way to stay in touch with friends, family and your favourite interest groups. But do you really know who can see what you are sharing? Protecting your privacy on social media is often about controlling the information that you share and who has access to what you are sharing.

Here are some tips on how to ensure you’re in control of who can see your personal information on social media sites:

- Check your privacy settings
- Think about the information you share online and how it's being used — what might a future employer or partner think if they read it?
- Remember that the Internet lets your information be collected and shared easily. The harmless information you post could be added to the mix, creating a full profile about you. Who might see it?
- Be aware of who might pass things on. Sharing information with just a few people doesn't stop it reaching a wider audience
- Ask for consent before you post and tag pictures of someone else, and request that they do the same for you
- Control the access different people in your life have to your personal details by setting up 'friend' groups
- Don't accept friend requests from people you don't know
- Location based check-ins can be risky. Do you really want everyone to know that no-one's home?

If you would like more information about protecting yourself online visit:

Protecting yourself and your information portal - http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_310316
Online social networking location-based services - http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD..PC/pc=PC_312281

If you would like more information on protecting your privacy as an individual more generally, see our Privacy Awareness Week tips here -http://www.oaic.gov.au/news-and-events/privacy-awareness-week-2013/useful-information/individuals/index.html

[Sídhe]

I just want to second what jotacar said.

Most people think that users are Facebook's and Twitter's customers. They aren't.

If you are using Facebook or Twitter, you aren't a customer, you are the product they are selling to others make money.