Social Media Privacy

Facebook used to be the poster child for confusing privacy updates and changing its settings more often than a celebrity changes outfits. And while Facebook still gets plenty of criticism, it’s no longer alone. Today, nearly every major social platform including Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, has its own maze of privacy settings that can leave users scratching their heads.

The core issue hasn’t changed. Platforms want to make sharing easy (and public), while most users want control over who sees their posts. Studies consistently show that people assume their photos, opinions, and updates are “private enough,” only to find out later that coworkers, distant relatives, or total strangers had access.

The problem is that default settings often lean toward openness, not privacy. Updates may be marketed as giving you “more control,” but in practice they usually mean digging into menus and toggles to set your preferences manually. And if you don’t, your vacation photos might end up more widely shared than you intended.

So what can you do?

• Check your settings regularly. Platforms change policies often, so make reviewing them a habit.
• Use filters and lists. Many apps let you share certain posts with friends only, or exclude certain groups.
• Think before posting. Assume anything you share could be public, even with settings in place.

As social media evolves, users are becoming more aware and more demanding about privacy. Platforms that fail to balance convenience with control risk losing trust. Until then, the responsibility falls on us: if you’re going to be online, take the time to know who’s really watching.

John Bradley Jackson © Copyright 2025