How to Protect Your Privacy on Social Media in 2025

Everyone’s online. That doesn’t mean your personal info should be up for grabs.

Social platforms keep changing, but one thing’s stayed the same—your data is valuable. The apps may look more polished now, but tracking, targeting, and account scraping haven’t gone anywhere. In 2025, keeping your digital life locked down takes more than just switching your account to “private.”

How to Protect Your Privacy on Social Media in 2025

If you’re sharing your life online, here’s how to keep it safer.

Check Those Default Privacy Settings

New apps and platform updates love turning on “features” you didn’t ask for. Every time you join a new network or update an existing one, dig into your privacy settings. Don’t just go with the defaults—they usually lean public.

Look for:

  • Who can see your posts
  • Who can tag you
  • Who can DM you
  • Whether your profile shows up in searches

Set everything to “friends only” or “close friends” when possible. It’s not about hiding—it’s about having a choice.

Limit What Personal Info Is Visible

Profiles ask for way more than they need. No one needs to know your full birthday, hometown, school, relationship status, or job title unless you want them to.

Public bios? Keep it general. Even on “professional” platforms, don’t post stuff like:

  • Your exact workplace address
  • Specific dates of travel
  • Kids’ names or school info

Creepers and bots can do a lot with just a few details.

Turn Off Location Sharing on Posts

Tagging your favorite coffee shop in real time might seem harmless—but it’s not. Real-time location tags can show strangers exactly where you are, and even when you’re not home.

Turn off auto-location access for Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok in your phone settings. If you want to share where you’ve been, do it after you’ve left.

Watch What You Share in Stories and Lives

Stories feel temporary, but they’re still screenshots waiting to happen. That quick shot of your front porch, your kid’s school uniform, or your car plate number? It adds up.

Before you post:

  • Zoom out and check the background
  • Blur sensitive parts with a built-in sticker or filter
  • Keep Lives short and general—or just go audio-only

Also, be careful with what you say out loud. You never know who’s tuning in.

Use Two-Factor Authentication (Seriously)

This one’s not optional anymore. Two-factor authentication (2FA) helps block hackers even if they get your password. Most platforms now support SMS or app-based 2FA. Use an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy for extra security—it’s harder to fake.

If a platform offers biometric login (like Face ID), that’s even better.

Don’t Click Sketchy Links—Even in DMs

Phishing isn’t just an email problem anymore. Scammers send fake links through DMs that look like legit brand collabs or friend messages. Once you click, they could steal your login info or install spyware.

If someone you know sends a weird link out of nowhere, don’t tap. Message them directly and ask if it was real. And never enter your password on a page that doesn’t look 100% official.

Control Who Can Message You

Platforms like Instagram and Facebook now let you filter who can send DMs. Set it so only people you follow (or friends of friends) can contact you. You can also turn on message request filters to hide spammy stuff automatically.

If you start getting weird messages after going viral, don’t wait—lock down your inbox settings immediately.

Use a Burner Email for Signups

Don’t attach your main email to every platform. Create a backup or burner email just for social media logins. That way, your inbox isn’t exposed if a site gets hacked or sold to a third-party advertiser.

Same goes for phone numbers. Skip adding your real number unless it’s absolutely required—and then hide it from public view.

Think Before You “Sign in With Facebook” or Google

Logging in with Facebook or Google might be fast, but it also shares data between platforms. Stick to email logins when you can. If you already connected apps this way, go into your account dashboard and unlink anything you no longer use.

Fewer connections = fewer data leaks.

Keep Your App Permissions in Check

Once a month, go through your phone’s settings and check which apps have access to your:

  • Microphone
  • Camera
  • Location
  • Contacts

Turn off anything that doesn’t need constant access. Just because a photo editor once needed your camera doesn’t mean it should still have it now.

Similar Posts