Watch What You Share On Social Media Platforms
Safety when posting on social media when going on vacation should always be at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Once again, school gets in session and there are many holidays that follow. There is Columbus Day, which has a three-day weekend for some; Thanksgiving; and Christmas, which can have a week or more of vacation. Each one of those holidays is about a month apart and takes a lot of planning. Starting with Columbus Day, many families will take a small three-day vacation to catch their breath from all the hustle and bustle of life. Some might go camping for the last time or just go to a family spa resort for some downtime.
Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of the biggest holidays where you have families that are traveling to see other families, whether it be in another town or in a different state. As much fun as we have during all three holidays, we have to be careful of what we post on social media. So many people look to social media as a way to communicate to their friends and families. While that is a good idea, it is also a good place for a burglar to grasp that your home is not being protected by another person or remote security monitoring. This is why safety on social media while on vacation is such a major issue.
Social Media Tips for Protecting Your Home
As a homeowner who loves social media, what can you do to protect your home from anything happening? Many of us, while on vacation, will try not to use our social media so we can have family time. However, we know that does always work. Some things to do include not going on at all, uninstalling certain apps from your phone that could peg your location if you have a Smartphone, or not bringing your phone at all. We all know that last one is impossible since your phone is also a way to keep you safe. You can also use your phone for remote security monitoring of your home through a special app.
Here are some tips to help you out:
1. Go on Vacation Quietly
Don’t broadcast on social media that you are leaving. Many of us going on vacation like to announce when and where we are going to be, but that’s just not a good idea. We like to be able to go on social media to get feedback on certain activities or events that are going on in the area we are vacationing.
Safety on social media when going on vacation is always a priority for most families and doesn’t have to limit your good time, if you follow some simple rules of thumb. When you and your family are on vacation, don’t post any information or pictures until you get home. If you are making post on social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any other sites, burglars can use much of that information as a target to your home.
2. Stay Safe On Social Media When Going On Vacation
If you feel the need to post on social media, think about who can see your accounts. Make changes to secure your profile. Currently Smartphones come with GPS trackers, so if you have it on, it would be in your best interest to switch it off. This setting usually exists under location settings in your phone. Staying safe on social media when on vacation should always be a priority.
When your mail gets backed up because you can’t get to it for a week, your home becomes a target because it makes it obvious no one is there to get the mail. You can have the post office hold your mail. You can also notify your newspaper and tell them to stop delivery for the week you’re on vacation. If you don’t want to do this, make sure a friend, neighbor, or family member can get your mail everyday.
You may also want to consider putting your lights on a timer and ask a friend, family member, or neighbor to keep an eye on your home. If you know anyone trustworthy who will house sit, that would be great.
3. Don’t Post at All or Overpost
Don’t check in to any location on your Facebook or Instagram. If you don’t want that to happen, you need to turn the location GPS off so it doesn’t automatically locate you.
Plus, you don’t have to post every picture that you take while you are on vacation. Save all your photos and post the best ones when you get home. The more you upload to your accounts, the more you are leading a burglar to know that you are away. These are all great ways to stay safe on social media when going on vacation.
The less you say, the more you and your home are staying safe.
4. Contact Your Security Company
When you and your family are going to be away from home for an extensive period of time, contact your security company. If there is any unusual activity that comes through to your security company, they will get in contact with you and you can verify that it is someone that you know at your home.
5. Opt for Remote Security Monitoring
You are going to feel a lot better if you can keep an eye on your home while you’re away. You can keep track of your security system and even video surveillance through your smartphone on vacation so that you know everything is okay.
As we start planning our upcoming holiday vacations, let’s take a few minutes to think about what we want to come home to. We could either come home to a place that was well-kept and watched over by someone that is responsible or we could come home to our place being broken into. It all leads to what you post on social media. Staying safe on social media when going on vacation, is something many of us don’t think that what we post on the internet through our Facebook or Instagram accounts is going to affect us later. Some individuals will get lucky to not have their home broken into, but others won’t be that fortunate. Safety on social media when on vacation is an area that takes little time and effort, but has great value to protect your home.
Protect Your Rochester, Syracuse, or Buffalo Home
It’s important that you protect your home when you are away. SPS Fire & Security has solutions that can be the difference between a break-in and your home being safe. To learn more, call 585-770-0348 today.
