World Social Media Day takes place every year on 30th June and is a celebration of the platforms that connect us to the world around us. It’s a day to recognise the impact of LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, Reddit, Threads and the like… Social media has become so embedded into our daily lives that it’s hard to imagine life without it.
5.24 billion* people around the world use social media for communicating with friends and loved ones, reading news, entertainment, shopping, promoting their businesses or following their favourite influencers.
However, using any online platform presents certain risks. Excessive use of social media can harm your wellbeing. Additionally, many cyber threats exist, and social media users can become victims of identity theft or hacked accounts if they are not careful with how they manage their privacy and security settings.
Our latest article advises you on how to enjoy a safe, secure and healthy social media experience by using it responsibly.
Limit the Amount of Time You Spend on Social Media
Spending too much time on social media can significantly affect your wellbeing. The platforms are designed to keep us hungry for more content, and it’s very easy to get distracted. You may intend to spend just 10 minutes checking your feed, but before you know it, you’ve spent several hours ‘doomscrolling’. This is the act of excessively consuming news, especially negative news, and can have severe consequences on your health (including stress, depression and anxiety).
To prevent these damaging effects, do the following:
- Avoid checking your phone first thing in the morning, and 1 hour before going to bed
- Keep track of how much time you are spending on social media and set limits
- Turn off notifications so you won’t receive alerts every time a new headline is published
- Talk to your doctor if you cannot control your social media usage and it’s affecting your mental health – it is best to get help from a professional.
Too much social media usage can take a toll on your physical health, too. Looking at a phone or computer screen for too long can cause eye strain or poor posture, for instance. And a sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk of obesity, stroke, or developing diabetes.
Beware of Fake Accounts, Spam and Misinformation
Unfortunately, social media platforms are often abused and you need to be vigilant at all times to avoid becoming a victim. There are many fake accounts that exist online – before accepting a connection request, verify the identity of the person sending the request and only accept requests from people whom you know and trust. Misinformation (e.g. fake news or bogus health advice) is also a problem and you must verify the sources of information before believing any content or sharing it with others. Do not click on any suspicious links, as these can trick you into revealing sensitive data or sending money to a fraudster. Reporting any fake or inappropriate content that you find helps to make the social media platforms safer for everyone.
Be Mindful of the Information You Publish Online
Once you have published information online, it can be very difficult to remove. So, always be careful with the information that you share. Review your privacy settings and limit who is able to see the content you post.
Do not share your personal data publicly as this increases your risk of identity theft. And never expose your whereabouts online.
Implement Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication is a security control that requires you to identify yourself in two ways before you can access an account. An example of 2FA would be signing into a website with your username and password, then using an authenticator app on your phone to generate a one-time passcode (OTP). You would then enter the OTP into the website to gain access to your account. If you haven’t yet set up 2FA, now is the time to review the settings for your social media accounts and ensure that 2FA is enabled on all of them. Use a free authenticator app such as Authy or Google Authenticator.
Use Strong, Unique Passwords
Nowadays, we own so many online accounts that it’s tempting to reuse the same password for all of them. However, it’s very important that you don’t do this. If someone guessed your passwords and you used the same one everywhere, they could potentially gain access to all of your accounts. So, we advise using a different password for each account.
Use a password manager to generate strong passwords which are at least 8 characters in length. The password manager also stores your passwords, removing the need to write them down or remember all of them. Just don’t forget your master password! You can try a password manager such as LastPass.
Additionally, never share your login information with others – the only person who should have access to your accounts is you.
Monitor Login History
If you suspect that an unauthorised person is using your account, you can check your login activity. This will list the most recent sessions and can include information such as the date, approximate location, IP address and device used. If there are any sessions that you don’t recognise, this could indicate that your account has been compromised (hacked). You must end these sessions and change your password immediately. Make sure that 2FA is enabled on all accounts.
Engage in Positive Activity
Use it to connect with friends, join interest groups, or support causes. Follow uplifting, educational, or inspiring accounts, but unfollow or mute accounts that make you feel anxious, angry, or inadequate. Avoid participating in online arguments or toxic discussions.
Conclusion
Using social media responsibly can be enjoyed as part of a healthy, balanced digital life. By optimising your security and privacy settings, you can prevent account compromise and reduce the risk of identity theft. Limiting the amount of time you spend on social media can protect your mental and physical health. Engaging in positive behaviour by connecting with people who share your interests helps you to feel valued and part of a community.