Mitigating Social Media Risks: What I Learned and Best Practices for Protecting Yourself
Mitigating Social Media Risks: What I Learned and Best Practices for Protecting Yourself
Learn from my mistakes and protect yourself
Yesterday, I experienced a significant setback when my LinkedIn account was banned, causing substantial disruption to my small business as it was an important channel for me. This led me to reflect deeply on the situation and my actions. Today I am taking a mentoring stance to help you protect your identity.
During a conversation with my friend and business partner, Mandy, we discussed how as a tenant, one is not in control and is subject to the decisions of the provider. The incident with my blocked LinkedIn account reinforced this realization, as social media platforms can wield a great deal of power and cause significant harm to one's life.
This prompted me to review all my social media accounts and assess the risks associated with them. I discovered that I had signed up for a platform using a social media account. If I were to lose access to that social media account, I would be unable to log in to any other platform that uses that single-sign-on login. This basically means you can have a cascade effect that is even more detrimental.
To minimize the risks associated with social media, I offer the following advice:
Diversify your social media presence and avoid relying solely on one platform.
Be cautious about becoming a tenant of SAAS providers, as they can hold you to ransom, and you risk losing a lot.
Do not assume that big companies follow GDPR regulations, and be prepared for limited access to your data when requesting it.
Avoid using social media single sign-on for other services and products, as losing access to the associated social media account could result in being locked out of all platforms that utilize that login credential.
Make regular backups of your essential data on these platforms should you lose access to that provider.
Assess the critical services you use both in business and personally, and make sure you have a Plan B.
Read the terms and conditions of any platform you use and assess if you can be ‘banned’.
My world has been destroyed by me simply calling someone a ‘clown’. So learn from my mistakes. I urge you to take the time to review your social media accounts and identify potential risks. By being proactive, you can minimize the impact of any possible disruptions to your online presence.