Oversharing on Social Media

Article written by: Aadit Singh

Article designed by: Aadit Singh and Natasha Gumpula

What are the risks of oversharing on social media and how can you stay safe?

Social media oversharing occurs when individuals share too many personal details online, such as their whereabouts, habits, or intimate details concerning relationships and finances. It is simple to overlook that once we post online, these things are typically there for the long haul and could extend much further than we hope. Since social media has become a lifestyle, most teenagers and adults are accustomed to sharing anything, whether selfies or confidential information, without even considering the danger. Knowing what oversharing is the first step to protecting your privacy and safety online.

Oversharing can lead to severe consequences that compromise both online and personal safety. When individuals overshare on the internet, they become vulnerable to identity theft as hackers gather information such as birthdays, schools, or even addresses. Public updates also allow stalkers or scammers to monitor a person's activities and routines easily. In other instances, oversharing may result in cyberbullying or harassment when personal information is used to attack an individual. Even something as innocuous as posting a picture of your vacation can alert criminals that your home is empty. These risks make it important to think through the ramifications of posting anything personal.

One high-profile example of oversharing with catastrophic results was a woman who openly posted her vacation itinerary, only to return home to find her house burglarized.

The burglars had seen her posts and knew precisely when she would be gone. In one instance, a teenager posted too many intimate photos on a public account, and they were subsequently used without consent on impersonator accounts. In a 2023 cybersecurity report, it was found that more than 60% of online identity theft cases started with personally identifiable information willingly posted by the users themselves. These anecdotes illustrate that oversharing is not an inconsequential error, it has offline repercussions that are time-consuming and expensive to reverse.

The easiest way of steering clear of the dangers of oversharing is by taking small yet intelligent precautions.

Begin by regularly checking your privacy settings and restricting who can view your postings. Refrain from posting personal information such as your location, school, or financial data online. Pause before posting, consider whether what you are posting can be utilized to identify you or cause you any harm. Observing good "digital hygiene," like having strong passwords and being wary of friend requests, also keeps your information safe. Being safe online doesn't have to mean not sharing anything at all, it's just about sharing smart.

Oversharing on social media doesn't necessarily feel risky at the time, but it can have privacy and safety consequences in the long run. By being less oblivious to what we're posting and whom we're posting to, we can save ourselves from identity theft, harassment, and involuntary exposure. Social media is supposed to be a realm of connection and creativity, a realm that doesn't have to cost us our personal information. By being conscientious, being cautious, and knowing the repercussions, all people can reap the rewards of being online without compromising safety in the process.

CITATIONS

• Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Social Media Safety Tips. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2022. https://www.cisa.gov

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Protect Your Personal Information Online. FTC Consumer Advice, 2023. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov

• NBC News. “Burglary Tied to Social Media Posts Highlights Dangers of Oversharing.” NBCUniversal, 2021. https://www.nbcnews.com

• Norton. Cyber Safety Insights Report: Global Results. NortonLifeLock, 2023. https://us.norton.com

• Pew Research Center. Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023. Pew Research Center, 2023. https://www.pewresearch.org