In short, Use social networks as a shopfront: keep the front door clean and secure the back door and the keys tied to chains. Three things you can do today: turn on MFA as well as conduct a privacy check on each app, and trim old posts and connected apps.

Step 1 Secure your account prior to any other thing

• Make use of the password management system and create distinct passwords of 16+ characters for each account.

• Set up the multifactor authentication (MFA)–prefer an authenticator app or hardware key instead of SMS.

• Find active devices/sessions and then sign out of any device or session that is unfamiliar.

• Allow the alerts for logins (email/push whenever a new device logs in).

• Update recovery details (backup codes stored inside your password manager ) the recovery email/phone is up-to-date).

Step 2: Constrict your profile, bio along with your “About” info

• Eliminate sensitive information: full birthdate, address of residence email address, personal phone number, children schools, daily routines.

• Limit “Who can see” fields to “Only me” or “Friends/Connections” where possible.

• Hide your followers’ list of friends and contacts when the platform permits.

• Remove “Active Status/Last Seen” (so strangers aren’t able to time the time of your presence).

• Use neutral avatars/headers for those who want to be found without sharing too much.

Step 3: Controlling tagging, mentions, and visibility of the story

• Review tags prior to when they show to your personal profile.

• Limit those who can mention or tag the name of you (friends only or none in the event of a possibility).

• Create story visibility (Close Lists of Friends or Private) and stop sharing of your content/posts.

• Get rid of the location in posts and avoid geotagging in real-time.

Step 4: Review DMs, comments and the possibility of locating them

• SMS: Allow messages from friends or contacts only. Forward messages from unknown senders through “Requests.”

• Comment: Utilize filters (profanity/keyword blocks) restrict to friends or followers.

• Findability Disable contact sync; remove “find me by phone/email.”

• Google and other search engines. When supported, switch off the search engine indexing for the public on your page.

Step 5: Lock down images Face recognition, photos, and downloads

• Remove facial recognition in cases where it is available.

• Prevent downloads/duets/stitches of your videos (TikTok/IG features).

• Clean up old posts or albums with sensitive information (badges tickets, badges and registration plates).

• Make use of Close Friends/Private lists to share family photos.

Step 6: Remove unsafe connections (apps and quizzes)

• Review connected apps (anything you signed into with Facebook/Google/Apple/Twitter/X).

• Take everything you don’t make use of and remove all permissions that are broad (email contacts, email, DM access).

• Examine extensions for browsers connected to social media networks. Remove those that you don’t trust completely.

Step 7: Block advertisements, tracking and data from off-platform sources

• Limit personal ads and switch off the interest categories whenever possible.

• Block off-platform activities (e.g. data brokers that feed your account).

• You can opt off of “suggesting your account to others.”

• Refuse history of location and access to precise location for social applications.

Step 8: Clean-up your records (without perishing everything)

• Bulk-edit old posts” visibility to my friends, or just me.

• Use “Limit the number of posts”/Archive” features instead of deleting them if you require them later on.

• Stop public comments that contain personal information (yours or someone else’s).

• Download a copy the data and save it as encrypted to keep it for your documents.

Platform-by-Platform Quick Wins

Menu names shift around, focusing on the main concepts. They are usually found in Settings – Privacy and Security.

Facebook

• Privacy Checkup Limit Past Posts Review Profile and Tagging the Friends list to hide Off-Facebook Activity controls MFA and login notifications and session review.

Instagram

• Private Account (or keep it public and make use of Close Friends for stories) Hide Activity Status; Story Controls (no sharing, no limit on responses) Tags/Mentions approval MFA; Sensitive Content Control.

X (Twitter)

• Guard your tweets (or limit access to public tweets and DMs) Photo Tags off; discoverability turned off (phone/email) Location off; MFA test Connected applications.

TikTok

• Private Account; Suggest your account to others: off; Downloads/Stitch/Duet: off or friends; Comments: friends/off; Direct Messages: friends/off; Personalized ads: limit; MFA.

LinkedIn

• Visibility of your public profile: increase the visibility of your profile; hide the Connections list Limit who can view emails or phone calls; Mentions/Tags: Approvals Active Status off; sharing job updates Off if you’d prefer peace MFA.

Snapchat

• Ghost Mode in Snap Map View me Contact Me Story assigned to Friends; Quick Add Off Memory settings set for My Eyes Only Two-factor on.

A 30-Minute Lockdown Sprint

1. Security On MFA Rotate passwords that are weak or used and then take backup codes.

2. Security: Make Instagram/TikTok private (or create strict rules for stories or DMs) Protect tweets, restrict LinkedIn public profiles.

3. Tags and DMs: Review is required for tags; limit DMs to contacts/friends.

4. Searchability Switch off contacts syncing, and “find by phone/email.”

5. Connected Applications: Revoke at least three extensions/apps that are unusable.

6. Histories: Limit past posts to family members; archive sensitive content.

Continuous maintenance (put the date on your schedule for each quarter)

• Re-run every system’s security checkup.

• Devices/review sessions Sign out anywhere, excluding those devices that you currently use.

• Connected apps and posts from the past.

• Search your name + company/city and see what’s available. Repair leaks.

• Recovery of your test account (can you access the account with backup codes in case your phone fails? ).

Family & Creator Notes

• Children: Make sure you use the most strict defaults. do not use geotags that are public and be sure to monitor the friend lists of friends.

• Pros and creators: Keep a separate public account to route DMs via email/forms; never make public travel or locations until after the actual event.

Quick Red Flags Checklist

• Public friends/followers list

• Phone or personal email visible

• “Active Status/Last Seen” on

• Anyone can DM/comment/tag you

• Contact syncing enabled

• Location/geotags on by default

• Dozens of old “connected apps”

• No MFA / weak or reused passwords

Final Thought

It’s about the control. Keep your information open, keep everything else hidden as well as make taking over accounts incredibly difficult. Start the sprint now and schedule your quarterly tune-up and enjoy your feeds with no overshare anxiety.