Privacy on social networks

How can I best protect myself on social media / How can I make my social media account more secure?

Top 5 things you can do to make your account more secure:

1. Make your profile private → Only people you know can see your posts.
2. Only allow friends or people you know well to message you → Block DMs from strangers.
3. Turn off location sharing (especially on Snapchat) → Otherwise, you are essentially carrying around a GPS tracker.
4. Filter your comments for insults and toxic messages.
5. Use strong passwords + two-factor authentication – You can find out exactly how to do this here (link to the “Passwords” help article)!

Why is it important to protect my personal data?

You’ve probably heard this before: Once something is on the internet, it can spread quickly and can be very difficult to delete. That’s why it’s important to think carefully about what you share online and how you share it. This helps protect you from misuse of your data, fake accounts, and unnecessary data sharing, while allowing you to stay in control of what can be found about you online.

How can I tell if a website is safe?

• The padlock icon (SSL) indicates that the connection between you and the website is encrypted. This makes it much more difficult for others to intercept your passwords or other sensitive information.
• By browsing with a VPN, you can increase your privacy and anonymity online.

What rights do I have under the GDPR to have my data deleted?

Under the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), you have the right to have your personal data deleted.

Companies and platforms are required to delete your personal data if you request it. You can do this, for example, by withdrawing your consent to the processing of your data – perhaps you remember the little checkbox you ticked when registering for an app or platform. Once you withdraw your consent, they must delete your data.