Safety on Social Media: Unlocking Secure Travel Posts
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. Safety on Social Media During the Holidays 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? Many of us try not to use social media while on vacation so we can have family time. However, we know that doesn’t always work. You can choose not to go online at all. Alternatively, uninstall apps from your smartphone that could show your location. Of course, not bringing your phone at all is impossible, as your phone also helps keep you safe. You can also use your phone to remotely monitor your home security through a special app. Here are some tips to help you out: 1. Go on Vacation Quietly Don’t announce your trip on social media. Many of us like to share when and where we’re going on vacation, but that’s a bad idea. We might want feedback on local activities or events, however, you should still be careful. Safety on social media when you’re away is a top priority for most families. It doesn’t have to ruin your fun if you follow some simple rules. When you and your family are on vacation, don’t post any information or pictures until you get home. If you post on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or others, burglars can use that information to target your home. 2. Stay Safe On Social Media When Going On Vacation If you must post on social media, consider who sees your accounts. Then, secure your profile. Smartphones have GPS trackers, so if you have yours on, turn it off. You usually find this setting under your phone’s location settings. Staying safe on social media during vacation should always be a priority. When your mail piles up for a week, your home becomes a target. This shows everyone no one is home to get the mail. You can ask the post office to hold your mail. Also, tell your newspaper to stop delivery for the week you’re away. If you don’t want to do this, make sure a friend, neighbor, or family member gets your mail daily. You may also want to put your lights on a timer. And, ask a friend, family member, or neighbor to watch your home. If you know anyone trustworthy who will house sit, that would be excellent. 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