Statewide Iowa — (RI) — Those who overshare on social media might embarrass themselves, but they could also lose control of their personal information or become a target for burglars.
Consumer protection advocate Lara Sutherlin says Iowans should limit their posts to just the people they trust, like restricting Facebook messages to “friends only” and not to the entire world.
By showing online you just checked in at a favorite restaurant, that’s also telling everyone you’re likely gone from your house for an hour or so, which could make you a target for a break-in. Posting while on vacation could be exponentially worse. Sutherlin says a few recent high-profile cases have demonstrated how trying to make a joke on social media could end up getting you fired.
In one case earlier this fall, a Waterloo teacher lost his job after making a threatening comment about climate change activist Greta Thunberg. While social media is a great way to connect with friends and family, Sutherlin says it’s also a good place for crooks to try and find victims to scam. She says it’s important to stay vigilant and to resist the urge to click links or give information online.
Too much shared information could give criminals a way to figure out your routine and the best ways to steal from you.
