Social Media Privacy Checkup

Social privacy is shaped by more than a public-versus-private profile switch. Old posts, discoverability settings, connected apps and the audience for each new post all contribute to exposure.

Review what strangers can see

View the profile while signed out or use the platform’s public-preview tool. Check the biography, friends list, old posts, tagged photos and any location or workplace details.

Reduce discoverability

Decide whether people should find the account using a phone number, email address or search engine. Disable contact uploading if you do not want the platform continuously matching your address book.

Clean up connections

Remove third-party apps you no longer use and review active sessions for unfamiliar devices. Use a unique password and multi-factor authentication, then check the audience selector before posting.

The bottom line

Privacy settings change over time. Put a recurring reminder on your calendar rather than treating the checkup as a one-time task.