Why should you think twice before sharing anything online?
Imagine going about your day, and suddenly, you get a notification about a login attempt to your social media account, and it's definitely not you!
I’ve totally been there before. Social media is fun until it isn't.
I had a few other experiences that really opened my eyes to how at-risk we all are online.
In today’s digital world, knowing how to protect your online identity and privacy is a must.
Why should you care about your digital identity
Digital identity is all the information about you that’s out there online.
Some of this information can be your:
Name
Email address
Driver’s license number
Like most people, I use the Internet for everyday things like ordering food, shopping, paying bills, and — you guessed it right — social media.
In fact, more than half of the world's population uses social media. The graph below shows the rise in users over time.
Infographic courtesy of Sayrahervia via Wikimedia Commons. To hear an audio description of the infographic, click the play button on the audio player below.
Social media can put your personal data at risk, without you even noticing it.
Be mindful of the data you share to keep you safe from privacy issues like apps tracking your location, people stealing your identity, and trolls spreading false information.
There are also scams and fraud cases that have started from social media contact.
Take the following steps to protect your digital identity!
Did you know?
Only 58% of people around the world say they actually understand what "digital identity" means.
1. Review your online presence
How many articles, videos, podcasts, and discussion groups have you visited online?
Your digital footprint is all the information that you create by using the internet for any activities.
When I started to list all my accounts, I was shocked to see how much personal information I shared online! I deleted old, unnecessary accounts and made small changes to my online behavior.
Like me, you can take these small actions to limit and manage your online information:
Go ahead and Google yourself and check out all the search results.
List all your socials and all other accounts you made for emails, forums, and shopping sites.
Review your content and privacy settings and fix everything about you that seems off.
Quiz
You got your first job and now you want to manage your online presence. Which is your best move?
2. Make your accounts secure
Do you have that one password for almost all of your accounts (because it's easier to remember)?
Time to make a change!
I started to ditch passwords that are easy to guess and switched to unique and complex ones for each individual accounts.
If this seems like a lot, you can use a password manager to keep everything safe.
I also used two-factor authentication (2FA) just to double that layer of protection.
Now, I have peace of mind by knowing what things I can control to protect myself.
Did you know?
Just 30% of people around the globe enable multi-factor authentication for data security.
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3. Build your data privacy habit
What do you do when an app or a website asks for access?
Think carefully before you hit that "Allow" button!
Now, I make sure to:
Regularly check your privacy settings
Deny app permissions that don't make sense
Read more about phishing scams and fake websites
Stay informed and updated. You'll thank yourself.
Quiz
What is the best thing to do when trying a new game app recommended by an influencer?
Take Action
70% of people using the internet around the world have taken steps to protect their digital identity.
You can do it too!
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