Social Networks

Facebook was one of the first social networking sites that I had heard about. I only recently made an account for myself. Everyone had it for so long but I found that type of stuff boring. They had so many friends on it and how many shares and likes their content got. It was a way to connect with those around you, without you leaving your house.

But Facebook definitely has its shortcomings and issues. All a stranger needs is a mutual friend to see your profile picture and your bio. Then they can stalk the posts you've written and liked. They can find your family/friends from the photos you post, see what school, college, university, or workplace you are attending. They can even find out what places you frequent the most. This means that they immediately have the means to manipulate you and they can manipulate situations so that you'll be there at the same time as them.

Do not romanticise this. They may want to know more about you as a person. But any sane person would ask you instead of snooping around in your thoughts and life. It is just plain scary.

Facebook can be connected to your Instagram from there. Instagram allows them to see more photos of you, the places you frequent, and your family and friends. From just your bio, they can find your other accounts. Then that person can stalk your posts to get your Twitter, Tumblr, or Snapchat, finding out more about you and who you talk to. They mat know your whole life story by this point. They can see all your posts and photos.

From there that person could know more about you than you know of them. Now that's where it starts to get to the point of obsession. This is where it starts to get dangerous.

They could use your email to find your other accounts. They could send you threatening emails and troll your accounts. They could find your phone number from the information you put up on Facebook. This may cause them to note your number down and ring you at odd times and prank call you. Or text you. At this point tell the police about the harassment. This will help prevent any physical meetings and altercations.

This person is definitely a stalker. But to what extent you will not know and that is bad. They could be part of an extremist group who is recruiting. They could be someone with a grudge. They could be someone who has a messed up sense of what love is.

I know you've likely learnt about online safety in school, college, university, and in the workplace. You've likely heard those stories of people being lured into dangerous, and at some point deadly, situations.

Do not profess that bad things are unlikely to happen. Just prepare for them.

So, especially, let these points stick in your mind.

Keep your personal pages private. Make sure you only let people who you know follow you. Never, ever let mutual followers or friends follow you unless you know them. And stay clear of posting personal, sensitive content on your page. Always analyse your pictures so that they don't give away where you live.

These precautions should keep you safe in the long run. You need to take my advice. It could be the difference between life and death.

Put yourself first. You are who matters most. Don't allow other people to come into your life and make you deal with situations that you should not deal with. Look out for yourself. Read this article, tell others about it. Spread this message.