What Not To Post To A Social Network

We have all come to love our social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, or YouTube. Chances are, it’s your drug, and you’re smoking it. Over the past few years, these popular sites are booming with visitors, users, and web traffic. I encourage you 100% to get involved in your community and with your fellow friends. As long as you keep it secure and protected to "outsiders".

Of course, not everybody takes these measures into play. I am writing this article to explain about a cause and effect situation that can turn your world, upside-down.

For example, I am about to leave for a weeklong vacation on a 7-day cruise to the Caribbean. I feel it is necessary to update my social networks with the status: "is going on a cruise for a week to the Caribbean. Be home next Sunday!" Now only my friends and family are aware, right? WRONG. Now that you informed the internet about your absence, you are vulnerable to house robberies, break-ins, and many more crimes.

Why? It is because somebody searched for either a profile in a certain location, or pin-pointed by local updates (For example, the feature through Twitter that lets a user find “tweets” sent by others in a certain amount of miles from their location).

Let’s break this down. A burglar was searching through popular updates in your city, Boston. He came across a status update you sent from both your Twitter account and your Facebook. He noticed you were going to be out of town for a week. He then proceeded to track down your IP address to pin-point your house location. He figured you’re not home, so your house is a perfect spot for a robbery.

All I am trying to say is that you have to be very careful about the internet. Anybody in the world has access. Keep what you say low-key and just stay safe with what you post.

Thanks for reading, and please pass the word.

-Brandon (iTalkTech)

www.italktech.tk