How To Keep Seniors Safe in the Digital Age: A Social Media Guide

Social media is an integral part of life for people of all ages today. As a cybersecurity expert with over 15 years of experience, I‘ve seen firsthand how the digital world can enrich seniors‘ lives. Whether reconnecting with old friends, sharing family photos, or finding communities around hobbies, the opportunities are endless!

Of course, new technologies also come with risks. As you venture into the social media landscape, you‘ll want to be informed on how to protect your accounts, data, and ultimately your safety.

Not to worry – with a few preventative measures, you can avoid most online threats. I‘ll share my top tips tailored for seniors‘ unique needs and show you how to use social media while keeping your sensitive information private.

The Rise of Senior Social Media Use

First, let‘s look at some trends around seniors and social media. According to a 2021 report by Pew Research Center:

• 45% of Americans over 65 now use social media, up from just 14% in 2008.

• 70% of these users access social media daily. 60% are on Facebook.

• 36% of people 65+ say social media is important for getting information about news events.

• 30% use social platforms to connect with family and friends.

As you can see, social media usage continues to grow rapidly among older generations. With this increased adoption comes greater potential for scams targeted at seniors.

Why Seniors Are Such Common Targets

Unfortunately, the elderly are prime targets for online fraudsters. According to FBI data, seniors over 60 lost over $1.7 billion to internet crimes in 2021 alone. Here‘s why they‘re singled out:

• Seniors tend to be less familiar with new technologies and digital threats compared to younger folks who grew up online. Scammers exploit this lack of awareness.

• Many seniors have accumulated savings, retirement accounts, and other assets over time, making them lucrative targets.

• Cognitive decline due to aging can make some seniors more trusting and vulnerable to exploitation.

• Loneliness and isolation lead some to embrace any source of companionship online, even risky ones.

But there are steps you can take to significantly reduce your chances of being defrauded. Let‘s jump in!

1. Lock Down Your Privacy Settings

On any social media platform, take time to review your privacy settings and make sure your account is locked down. I always recommend starting here:

• Account privacy: Set this to "Friends only" to limit who can see your profile and posts. Avoid "Public" settings.

• Limit past posts visibility: Facebook makes all your previous posts public by default. Restrict this in your Activity Log.

• Review personal info: Delete any details like phone numbers, addresses, birth dates, etc. that enable identity theft.

• Limit ad targeting: Opt out of interest-based ads which profile you based on account activity and data.

Settings frequently change so check back regularly. Guard your details carefully – nearly 30% of social media scams start with profile details.

I also suggest Googling yourself periodically to see what information comes up. This helps identify any risky personal details available online publicly.

2. Beware of Friend Requests from Strangers

Here‘s a common scenario – you notice a new friend request from someone unfamiliar. Their profile shows almost no details or photos. Should you accept?

In most cases, no. This is likely a scammer utilizing a fake account to access your profile and send spam.

Telltale signs of suspicious friend requests:

• Little-to-no personal info or details shared publicly on the profile

• Profile picture appears generic, stolen from elsewhere online, or computer-generated

• Brand new account with sparse activity and almost no existing connections

• Vague or dubious profile description ("World traveler", "Entrepreneur", etc.)

• Broken or unnatural English used in their posts or messages

I recommend immediately ignoring and deleting any sketchy requests. Don‘t accept connections from people you can‘t verify. This keeps fraudsters from targeting you directly.

And remember – accepting a friend request also gives that person access to view all your posts and profile information. So be selective!

3. Activate Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor or multi-factor authentication (2FA/MFA) requires providing two forms of identity verification when logging into an account instead of just a password. This prevents hackers or thieves who learn your password from being able to access your accounts.

Many major social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram allow you to switch this on in your account settings:

To enable 2FA:

1. Select 2FA in your account security settings

2. Enter your phone number

3. Choose to receive codes via text/SMS

4. Save backup codes provided in case you lose phone access

Now when logging in from a new device, you‘ll need to enter both your password and the code texted to your phone. 2FA codes can also be received through third party apps like Authy or Google Authenticator as an alternative to SMS texts.

I recommend turning 2FA on not just for social media, but email, financial accounts, and any other important logins. This adds a major layer of protection.

4. Never Reuse or Share Passwords

Using the same password across multiple accounts is a big risk, since any one site getting hacked means all your other accounts are compromised as well.

Likewise, you should never share your login passwords with others, even close family.

Here are my tips for keeping passwords secure:

• Use unique, strong passwords for each important account. Good passwords are 12+ characters, with upper/lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

• Try using a sentence like "C@tsLik3FancyF????!" – easy to remember but hard to guess.

• Consider a password manager like 1Password or LastPass to generate and store unique passwords.

• Change passwords every 90 days, especially if you suspect an account was compromised.

• Never use security questions with answers findable online (like your high school mascot or mother‘s maiden name).

• Avoid the most commonly hacked passwords: 123456, password, qwerty. Be creative!

Follow this advice and you‘ll be miles ahead of most folks when it comes to account security.

5. Watch Out for Common Social Media Scams

Scammers cast a wide net with clever schemes tailored to target social media users. Stay alert for these prevalent scams:

Fake pages: Copycat pages impersonate real businesses, charities, or public figures to spread false information, drive traffic to malicious sites, or run confising contests/giveaways. Always verify official blue checkmarks.

Phishing links: Malicious links sent via chat or post try to steal your personal data and login credentials. Avoid entering usernames or passwords after clicking unknown links.

Romance scams: Fraudsters pose as potential romantic partners online, building trust before eventually asking for money. Never send funds to someone you haven‘t met first.

Technical support scams: Fake "support agents" offer account help in exchange for access or logins. Legit companies will never contact you this way unexpectedly.

Fake stores: Copycat or made-up online stores advertise hot deals in social feeds to lure shoppers, take payment, and never deliver the goods. Always vet sellers carefully first.

Financial scams: Posts promoting cryptocurrency, forex trading, or stock market "secrets" aim to drive sign-ups for scams promising unrealistic returns. Avoid "risk-free" investment opportunities.

There are many more varieties of social media scams out there. Stay skeptical of anything that looks fishy or too good to be true. When in doubt, don‘t engage.

6. Install a VPN for Public Wi-Fi Security

Free public Wi-Fi networks at places like cafes and hotels might seem convenient, but they come with risks, like exposing your browsing activity to eavesdroppers.

I recommend always using a trusted virtual private network (VPN) when connecting to public hotspots. VPNs encrypt all your internet traffic and hide your IP address.

Top-rated VPNs to check out include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, TunnelBear, and ProtonVPN. Some even offer free smartphone apps for secure mobile usage.

Turning your VPN on before accessing social media over public Wi-Fi keeps snoops from spying on your activity or targeting your device. Think of a VPN as a digital privacy cloak!

7. Be Cautious When Shopping on Social Media

Social platforms make it easy for small businesses to advertise products directly in your feeds. While supporting independent sellers is great, scammers take advantage of this to rip people off.

When buying goods advertised on social media:

• Vet sellers thoroughly – search for reviews, complaints, red flags. Avoid stores with zero presence outside of social media.

• Stick to credit cards for buyer protection. Never pay via wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency, CashApp – these offer zero security.

• Confirm a company‘s real-world contact info isn‘t fake or spoofed. Call if needed to verify operations.

• Avoid limited-time offers or high-pressure sales tactics. Scammers try to create false urgency to make you act impulsively.

• Price check items using search engines to ensure "deals" aren‘t really overpriced knockoffs.

Approach social media shopping carefully, just as you would transactions on Craigslist or other high-risk venues. Don‘t get swindled by deals that look too good to be true.

8. Use Antivirus Software and Firewall Protection

Malware and viruses are a risk with any online activity, including social media use. Just clicking a boobytrapped link in a chat or post can infect your device.

That‘s why I recommend running comprehensive antivirus software on all your devices. This acts as your first line of defense against malicious software.

For Windows, use built-in Microsoft Defender or a premium program like Norton 360 or McAfee Total Protection. On Macs, Intego and Bitdefender are highly rated.

Make sure to keep your antivirus updated and run regular system scans. Configure it to run automatic scans as well whenever new files are downloaded.

I also suggest utilizing your operating system and/or router firewall settings to block unauthorized connections. The firewall acts as an additional security barrier.

Take these preventative steps and you‘ll have peace of mind knowing your system is continuously monitoring for the latest threats.

9. How to Spot Fake News or Misinformation

Social media‘s immediacy makes it prime for spreading sensationalized or totally fabricated "news" designed to go viral.

When reviewing posts with news links on social feeds, check for telltale signs of misinformation:

• Extreme, emotionally-charged language like "Shocking!" "Horrifying!" "Must read!". Real news tends to use more neutral language.

• Headlines containing accusations, like "Politician caught in scandal". Legitimate news presents allegations as questions, not facts.

• Missing or dubious sourcing. Scam news cites non-existent studies or no firsthand sources at all.

• New or unknown publisher. Check sites carefully for satire disclaimers and make sure they have a reputation for credibility.

• Content contradicting verified outlets. Fake stories won‘t be reported elsewhere by reputable news organizations.

• Odd domain names or URLs. For example, using ".com.co".

Approach viral, outrage-inducing articles skeptically before believing or sharing them. Use fact-checking sites like Snopes.com or PolitiFact.com to verify trending news stories.

Practice critical thinking and media literacy skills – they‘re crucial life defenses against misinformation.

10. How to Guard Against Social Media Harassment

Along with scams, social media also enables online harassment like bullying, threats, hate speech, and other abusive behavior. Here are some tips if you encounter this:

• Report issues to the platform. Use built-in tools to notify companies of harassment policy violations. Provide as many details and examples as possible.

• Collect evidence. Take screenshots of abusive messages or posts before the offender can delete them. Share these when filing reports.

• Block users. Prevent further contact by blocking harassers from viewing your profile or messaging you.

• Limit account visibility. Adjust privacy settings to minimize who can contact you (followers/friends only).

• Avoid engaging. Don‘t retaliate or respond to abuse – this often encourages additional attacks. Disengage and report instead.

• Get support. Confide in trusted family and friends. You don‘t have to suffer alone. Consider contacting reputable groups that provide assistance to victims.

The earlier you take action against online abuse, the less power you give the harassers over you. There are always steps you can take to protect yourself.

What To Do If You‘re Targeted in a Social Media Scam

No one is immune from occasionally falling for a scam or having an account compromised. It can happen to even the most cautious users. Here are smart recovery steps if you encounter fraud:

• Secure accounts. Change passwords, enable MFA, remove linked payment methods to prevent further unauthorized access.

• Notify banks/financial providers. Request holds on accounts, dispute unauthorized charges, arrange replacements for lost funds.

• Report issues to social platforms. Provide details through official reporting tools to get fraudulent accounts shut down.

• Document details extensively. Track scam/loss timelines, account names used, contact info, and communication records for investigators.

• Contact authorities. File complaints with agencies like your state attorney general‘s office and the FTC‘s complaint assistant. Consider contacting the FBI for severe cases.

• Review credit reports. Place fraud alerts and consider credit freezes if risks of identity theft exist. Monitor closely for fraudulent accounts opened in your name.

• Seek emotional support. Don‘t blame yourself if scammed. Confide in trusted friends about your experience to reduce feelings of shame or isolation.

By quickly taking proactive measures, you‘ll limit damages and prevent the situation from growing worse over time.

Closing Thoughts

I hope these tips give you a helpful starting guide to protecting yourself and using social media safely as a senior. Most threats can be avoided by updating your security settings, using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and avoiding suspicious links or scams.

Remember to use common sense and a healthy dose of skepticism when navigating the social media landscape. If an offer looks too good to be true, it very well may be! Seek help from trusted family or younger friends if you ever feel unsure about something you encounter online.

Staying vigilant and using preventative measures means you can enjoy all the fun, connection, and enrichment social media offers. Here‘s to many more years of safe and rewarding online experiences!