Personal Insights

Tips for social media safety and protecting your data

Sharing too much personal information can compromise your security on social media.

Social media makes it easy to stay connected with family, friends, colleagues and communities. But every post, photo and interaction can reveal information about you to advertisers, cybercriminals, scammers and identity thieves.

Whether you're sharing family photos, celebrating milestones or keeping up with current events, understanding social media risks can help protect your privacy and reduce the likelihood of fraud.

Key takeaways

• Use a different password for every social media account.
• Turn on multi-factor authentication whenever available.
• Review privacy settings regularly.
• Think carefully before sharing personal information online.
• Watch for impersonation accounts, phishing attempts and scams.
• Be cautious about posting travel plans or location information.
• Log out of social media accounts on shared devices.
• Monitor your accounts regularly for suspicious activity.

Stay safe on social media

Simple habits can help reduce fraud and protect your personal information.

Protecting your accounts, limiting personal information and recognizing scams can help reduce the risk of fraud and identity theft.

From our social media team

"Social media scammers continually evolve their tactics. Reviewing account security settings regularly can help reduce your exposure to fraud and unauthorized account access."

— Sean Vibert, Regions Social Media Manager

Why social media safety matters

Many people think of social media as a place to connect with family and friends. Criminals often see it as a source of valuable information.

Details such as birthdays, hometowns, family relationships, pet names, schools attended, vacation plans and locations can sometimes help fraudsters build a profile about you. In some situations, that information may be used to create convincing phishing messages, answer security questions, impersonate trusted contacts or attempt identity theft.

The more personal information that's publicly available, the more opportunities criminals may have to target you.

Change your passwords regularly

Passwords are one of the first lines of defense for protecting your accounts.

Consider these password best practices:

• Use a unique password for every account.
• Avoid reusing passwords across multiple websites and apps.
• Create long passwords or passphrases that are difficult to guess.
• Consider using a reputable password manager.
• Change passwords immediately if a platform experiences a data breach or you suspect unauthorized access.

Using a different password for each account helps prevent one compromised password from putting multiple accounts at risk.

Enable multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication (MFA), also known as two-factor authentication, adds another layer of protection beyond a password.

MFA may require:

• A one-time security code
• An authentication app
• Biometric verification such as facial recognition or fingerprint authentication

Even if a criminal obtains your password, MFA can make it significantly more difficult to access your account.

Review your privacy settings regularly

Social media platforms regularly update privacy settings and security features.

At least twice a year, review:

• Who can see your posts
• Who can view your profile information
• Who can send you direct messages
• Who can find you using your phone number or email address
• Location-sharing permissions
• Third-party applications connected to your account

Many users choose to start with the most restrictive settings and then selectively allow access where appropriate.

Think before you post

Before sharing content online, ask yourself:

• Does this reveal sensitive personal information?
• Could a scammer use this information to impersonate me?
• Does this reveal my current location?
• Does it disclose travel plans?
• Could it help someone answer a security question?
• Would I be comfortable if this information became publicly available?

Once information is posted online, controlling how it is shared or used becomes much more difficult.

Be careful when sharing travel plans

Vacation photos and travel updates are popular social media content. However, timing matters.

Consider waiting until after your trip to share:

• Travel dates
• Hotel information
• Flight details
• Real-time location updates
• Extended periods away from home

Posting these details publicly may unintentionally signal that your home is unoccupied or reveal more information than intended.

New scams to watch for

Social media scams continue to evolve as fraudsters find new ways to gain trust, steal personal information and access financial accounts. Understanding current scam tactics can help you recognize warning signs before becoming a victim.

Impersonation accounts

Fraudsters may create fake profiles that appear to belong to:

• Friends or family members
• Customer service representatives
• Businesses and brands
• Public figures
• Community organizations

Before responding to unexpected messages or requests, verify the person’s identity through another trusted communication channel.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams

Be cautious when you encounter:

• Promises of guaranteed returns
• “Exclusive” investment opportunities
• Pressure to act immediately
• Claims that an opportunity is risk-free

If an investment offer sounds too good to be true, it may be a scam.

Fake giveaways and contests

Scammers often use fake promotions to collect personal or financial information.

Be wary of requests for:

• Account credentials
• Payment information
• Verification codes
• Upfront fees to claim a prize

Legitimate organizations generally do not require sensitive financial information to receive a legitimate prize.

Phishing through direct messages

Social media messaging platforms have become a common channel for phishing attacks.

Watch for messages that:

• Create a sense of urgency
• Claim there is a problem with an account
• Direct you to click a link
• Ask you to verify personal information
• Request login credentials

Always visit websites directly rather than through unexpected links.

Account takeover scams

A compromised social media account can be used to target that person's friends and followers.

If someone you know unexpectedly asks for:

• Money
• Gift cards
• Authentication codes
• Financial information
• Personal information

Verify the request independently before responding.

AI-generated impersonation scams

Advances in artificial intelligence have made fake content increasingly convincing.

Scammers may use AI-generated:

• Profile photos
• Videos
• Messages
• Voice recordings

Even when a message appears legitimate, it’s important to verify unexpected requests, especially those involving money, sensitive information or changes to account settings.

Red flags to remember

Pause and take a closer look if a message:

• Creates urgency
• Requests money or gift cards
• Asks for login credentials or verification codes
• Contains suspicious links
• Pressures you to act immediately
• Seems unusual for the sender

When in doubt, stop, verify, and proceed cautiously.

Verify before you trust

One of the most effective fraud-prevention habits is simply pausing before you act.

Before responding to a message, clicking a link or sharing information:

• Verify the sender’s identity.
• Confirm requests through trusted channels.
• Be cautious of urgent or emotional appeals.
• Never share passwords or authentication codes.
• Report suspicious accounts to the platform.

Taking a few extra seconds to verify a request may prevent a costly mistake.

Log out after each session on shared devices

Social media platforms can sometimes keep users signed in across devices and applications.

When using a shared or public device:

• Log out completely when finished.
• Avoid saving passwords in the browser.
• Close browser windows after your session.
• Avoid accessing sensitive accounts on unsecured public networks.

These steps can help reduce unauthorized access to your accounts.

Social media safety checklist

Use this checklist as a quick reminder:

• Use unique passwords
• Enable multi-factor authentication
• Review privacy settings regularly
• Limit public profile information
• Verify unexpected friend or follower requests
• Think carefully before posting personal details
• Avoid suspicious links and attachments
• Monitor your accounts for unusual activity
• Log out on shared devices
• Report suspicious messages and accounts

Take the next step

For more information on preventing fraud, protecting your identity and recognizing scams, visit Regions’ Fraud Prevention resources.