Holiday cheer, without the fear: How to stay safe on social media
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 24, 2024) — When the holiday season approaches, social media activity spikes with online shopping for loved ones, sharing posts about holiday parties, vacations and special moments with family during the holidays. However, this increased activity also comes with potential risks to privacy and online safety.
Kakie Urch, an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Media in the College of Communication and Information at the University of Kentucky, offers safety tips for staying safe and secure online during the holiday season.
Be thoughtful about posting online. Everything someone posts and says online is seen and out there, especially with generative artificial intelligence (gen AI). Gen AI can use and change anything someone puts online. Urch explains how many things are unknown about gen AI and recommends people be aware of it and thoughtful about what they post or say online.
Be careful when posting gifts and holiday vacation locations. Are you going on vacation or want to post what you got for Christmas? Posting vacation plans or presents while out of town can alert others that your home is unoccupied. Urch recommends not posting about holiday vacations or gifts online because it can make you and your home a target.
Be cautious of online scams. Many people shop online now, especially during the holidays, to find the perfect gifts. If shopping online, beware of scams. Urch recommends shopping on websites known to be secure and accurate when buying gifts.
Keep your credit card information safe. When shopping online and entering credit card information, ensure the website is secure. Urch recommends looking for sites with “https:” at the beginning of the web address or URL. The “s” at the end indicates that the website is secure for e-commerce.
Use secure mobile apps. Do you use shopping store apps to shop? Great! This is a way to ensure you shop with stores you trust and know are not fake. Urch recommends using mobile apps you trust and are familiar with during the holidays.
Beware of charity scams. During the holiday season, many people like to give back to their community through charities that support others in need. People looking to donate should be sure to research the charity they want to support to make sure it is not a scam.
Monitor your amount of time online. During the holidays, online activity spikes because of online shopping, posting on social media or passing free time. Avoid spending too much time online and instead focus on spending time with family and friends.
Be kind. Staying kind on social media during the holidays helps create a positive, supportive environment where everyone can enjoy the season. Urch urges everyone to be thoughtful when posting on social media.
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