Introduction: Why Social Media Privacy Matters Now More Than Ever

Your social media accounts are digital extensions of your identity. They contain personal photos, location history, relationship status, employment information, and countless details about your daily life. Yet many people leave their social media privacy settings on default, exposing this sensitive information to strangers, data brokers, and potential bad actors.

The stakes have never been higher. Data breaches happen regularly, personal information is bought and sold by data brokers, and social engineering attacks often start with publicly available social media profiles. Whether you're concerned about identity theft, unwanted contact, or simply value your privacy, learning how to properly lock down your social media privacy settings is essential.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through securing your accounts on the major platforms, explain what each setting does, and help you understand the privacy landscape. We'll also show you how services like GhostMyData can automate much of this process and remove your data from third-party sources.

Prerequisites: What You'll Need Before You Start

Before diving into the step-by-step process, gather these essentials:

Access to your accounts: Have your usernames and passwords ready for each platform you use
A secure device: Use a computer or phone you trust, preferably on a private network
Time: Plan for 30-60 minutes depending on how many accounts you have and how much cleanup is needed
Your phone number or email: You may need these for two-factor authentication setup
A password manager (optional but recommended): Tools like Bitwarden, 1Password, or LastPass help you manage complex passwords securely

Understanding basic privacy terminology will also help:

Public profile: Anyone can find and view your information
Friends only: Only people you've approved can see your content
Private account: Only approved followers can see your posts and profile
Data broker: Companies that collect and sell personal information
Two-factor authentication (2FA): An extra security layer requiring a second verification method

Step-by-Step Guide to Locking Down Your Social Media Privacy Settings

Facebook Privacy Settings

Facebook is often the most complex platform for privacy configuration, but it offers granular controls.

Step 1: Access Your Privacy Settings

Click the downward arrow in the top-right corner of your Facebook page
Select "Settings and privacy," then click "Settings"
In the left sidebar, click "Privacy"

Step 2: Control Who Can See Your Posts

Under "Who can see your posts?" select your preferred audience
We recommend starting with "Friends" rather than "Public"
Remember: you can adjust this per post if needed, but defaulting to Friends is safer

Step 3: Limit Who Can Contact You

In the same Privacy menu, find "Who can contact you?"
Set to "Friends" to prevent messages from strangers
Consider enabling "Filter messages" to screen requests from non-friends

Step 4: Control Your Friend List Visibility

Go to your profile and click the three dots near your name
Select "Edit profile"
Click the privacy icon next to "Friends" and set it to "Friends only"
This prevents strangers from seeing your entire friend network

Step 5: Adjust Tag Review Settings

Return to Privacy settings
Find "Review tags people add to your posts before the tag appears on your timeline?"
Toggle this ON to approve tags before they're visible
This prevents others from tagging you in embarrassing or misleading photos

Step 6: Manage App Permissions

Click "Settings and privacy" then "Settings"
Navigate to "Apps and websites"
Review connected apps and remove any you no longer use
Click each app to see what data it can access and restrict permissions

Step 7: Control Search and Discovery

In Privacy settings, find "Do you want other search engines to link to your profile?"
Uncheck this box to prevent Google and other search engines from indexing your profile
Set "Who can look you up using the email address you provided?" to "Friends"
Do the same for phone number lookup

Instagram Privacy Settings

Instagram's interface is more streamlined than Facebook's, but equally important to configure.

Step 1: Switch to a Private Account

Open Instagram and go to your profile
Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines)
Select "Settings and privacy"
Tap "Account type and tools"
Toggle "Private account" ON
This means only approved followers can see your posts

Step 2: Control Story and Message Visibility

Go back to "Settings and privacy"
Select "Privacy"
Under "Story," choose who can reply to your stories (Friends, Close Friends, or Off)
Under "Messages," set who can message you (Everyone, People you follow, or Followers)
We recommend "Followers" as a middle ground

Step 3: Hide Your Activity Status

In Privacy settings, find "Activity status"
Toggle OFF "Show activity status"
This prevents others from seeing when you were last active

Step 4: Manage Comment Controls

Go to "Settings and privacy" then "Account"
Select "Comments"
Choose who can comment on your posts (Everyone, Followers, or People you follow)
Toggle ON "Hide offensive comments" for automatic filtering

Step 5: Control Tag Approval

In Privacy settings, find "Tags"
Toggle ON "Manually approve tags before they appear on your profile"
This gives you control over what photos you're associated with

Step 6: Disable Location Services

Go to your phone's Settings (not Instagram's)
Navigate to Apps > Instagram > Permissions
Set Location to "Never" or "Only While Using the App"
This prevents Instagram from continuously tracking your location

Step 7: Review Connected Apps

In Instagram's "Settings and privacy," select "Apps and websites"
Review all connected apps
Remove any apps you don't actively use
Click each app to see what permissions it has

Twitter/X Privacy Settings

Step 1: Make Your Account Private

Click the "More" icon (three dots) on your profile
Select "Settings and privacy"
Go to "Privacy and safety"
Toggle ON "Protect your posts"
This makes your account private; only approved followers see your tweets

Step 2: Control Who Can Message You

In "Privacy and safety," find "Direct Messages"
Toggle "Allow messages from anyone" OFF
This restricts DMs to people you follow

Step 3: Disable Location Tracking

Go to "Settings and privacy" then "Privacy and safety"
Find "Precise location"
Toggle OFF to prevent location tracking
You can also toggle off "Location information" entirely

Step 4: Manage Photo Tagging

In "Privacy and safety," find "Photo tagging"
Select "No one" to prevent others from tagging you in photos

Step 5: Control Search Indexing

In "Privacy and safety," find "Search and visibility"
Toggle OFF "Allow this account to be indexed by search engines"
This prevents your profile from appearing in Google results

TikTok Privacy Settings

Step 1: Switch to a Private Account

Go to your profile and tap the three-line menu
Select "Settings and privacy"
Tap "Privacy"
Toggle ON "Private account"
Only approved followers can see your videos

Step 2: Restrict Who Can Interact With You

In Privacy settings, find "Who can send you direct messages?"
Select "Friends" instead of "Everyone"
Find "Who can comment on your videos?" and select "Friends"
Set "Who can duet with your videos?" to "Friends"

Step 3: Disable Location and Search

Go to "Settings and privacy" then "Privacy"
Toggle OFF "Allow others to find your account using your phone number or email"
Toggle OFF "Suggest your account to others"

Step 4: Control Data Collection

In "Settings and privacy," select "Personalization and data"
Toggle OFF "Personalized ads"
This limits how much data TikTok uses to target you

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even well-intentioned users often make privacy mistakes. Here are the most common ones:

Mistake 1: Leaving Default Settings Unchanged

Most social platforms default to maximum visibility. Don't assume the default settings protect your privacy—they don't. Always customize your settings immediately after creating an account.

Mistake 2: Making One-Time Changes and Forgetting About Them

Social media platforms frequently update their privacy settings and features. Review your settings quarterly to ensure they still match your preferences.

Mistake 3: Oversharing in Bios and About Sections

Your bio might mention your employer, location, or school. This information helps data brokers and bad actors build profiles about you. Keep biographical information minimal.

Mistake 4: Forgetting About Old Accounts

Abandoned accounts are security vulnerabilities. If you're not actively using an account, either delete it or set it to private with minimal information.

Mistake 5: Accepting Friend Requests From Strangers

Every accepted request gives someone access to your information. Be selective about who you connect with, and don't assume a familiar-sounding name is actually someone you know.

Mistake 6: Ignoring App Permissions

Apps connected to your social accounts can access far more data than you realize. Regularly audit and remove unnecessary app connections.

Mistake 7: Not Using Two-Factor Authentication

Even with perfect privacy settings, weak passwords and single-factor authentication put your account at risk. Enable 2FA on every platform that offers it.

Advanced Tips for Maximum Privacy

Once you've covered the basics, consider these advanced strategies:

Use a VPN for Social Media Access

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address. This prevents your internet service provider and social platforms from tracking your location and browsing habits. Use a reputable VPN service when accessing social media on public WiFi especially.

Limit Third-Party Data Sharing

Most platforms share data with advertisers and analytics companies. In your account settings, look for options to limit data sharing. For example, Facebook allows you to opt out of off-Facebook activity tracking.

Use Separate Email Addresses

Consider using different email addresses for different platforms. This prevents data brokers from easily connecting your accounts across the internet.

Enable Login Alerts

Most platforms offer notifications when someone logs into your account from a new device. Enable these alerts and investigate any unrecognized logins immediately.

Regularly Audit Your Posts

Periodically review old posts and delete content you no longer want public. Platforms like Facebook allow you to review all posts you're tagged in.

Understand Privacy Laws

Familiarize yourself with relevant privacy regulations:

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): Applies to EU residents and gives you rights to access, correct, and delete your data
CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act): Grants California residents similar rights
COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act): Protects users under 13

These laws give you rights to request data deletion and understand how companies use your information.

Consider a Separate Phone Number

Some services require phone verification. Consider using a virtual phone number service for social media accounts to keep your real number private.

How GhostMyData Can Automate Your Privacy Protection

While manually adjusting privacy settings is important, it's only part of the privacy puzzle. Your information has likely already been collected by data brokers—companies that buy and sell personal information without your explicit consent.

This is where GhostMyData comes in.

What GhostMyData Does

GhostMyData automates the process of removing your personal information from data brokers and people search websites. Rather than spending hours manually contacting dozens of companies, GhostMyData handles the removal process for you.

The Problem Data Brokers Create

Even if you lock down your social media privacy settings perfectly, your information may already be available through:

People search websites
Data broker aggregators
Public records databases
Marketing lists
Background check services

These companies compile information from public sources and sell it to anyone willing to pay. This means strangers can find your address, phone number, relatives' names, and other sensitive information regardless of your social media settings.

How GhostMyData Solves This

Our service:

Identifies where your data appears: We scan hundreds of data brokers and people search sites
Submits removal requests: We contact companies on your behalf to request data deletion
Follows up: We track removal requests and resubmit if necessary
Monitors continuously: We monitor the web to catch new listings of your information

The GhostMyData Process

Start with a free scan to see where your data appears online
Review the results showing which data brokers have your information
Choose a removal plan that fits your needs
Let our team handle the removal process while you focus on other things
Receive updates as your data is removed

Why Combine Both Approaches

Think of it this way: locking down your social media privacy settings is like closing the front door to your house. It's necessary and important. But GhostMyData removes your information from the "phonebooks" and "directories" that list your address to the world—it closes the back door.

For comprehensive privacy protection, you need both:

Social media privacy settings: Prevent future oversharing through your accounts
Data removal: Eliminate information already collected by brokers

Together, these approaches significantly reduce your digital footprint and protect your privacy.

Special Features for Social Media Users

GhostMyData is particularly valuable for social media users because:

We remove your information from sites that scrape social media data
We help remove your information from people search sites that aggregate public social posts
We monitor for re-listing of your information
We provide ongoing protection as new data brokers emerge

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I review my social media privacy settings?

We recommend reviewing your privacy settings at least quarterly. Social media platforms frequently update their features and default settings, so regular reviews ensure your preferences remain current. Set a calendar reminder to check every three months.

Is it safe to use a private account on social media?

Yes, private accounts are generally safer than public ones. However, private accounts aren't completely secure—approved followers can still screenshot your content and share it elsewhere. Private accounts simply limit who can see your information to begin with, which is an important first step.

What's the difference between deleting an account and deactivating it?

Deactivating temporarily hides your profile but keeps your data on the platform's servers. Deletion permanently removes your account and associated data after a waiting period (typically 30 days). If you're certain you won't return, deletion is the more private option. If you might want to return, deactivation is reversible.

Can I control what information appears in Google search results about me?

Partially. You can disable search engine indexing in your social media privacy settings, which prevents search engines from linking to your profile. However, if someone has already published information about you elsewhere, you may need to submit removal requests to Google directly through their removal tools. GhostMyData can help remove your information from websites that appear in search results.

Will using GhostMyData affect my social media accounts?

No. GhostMyData only works with data brokers and people search websites—not with social media platforms themselves. We don't access your social accounts or make changes to them. You maintain complete control over your social media privacy settings while we handle data broker removals separately.

Take Control of Your Privacy Today

Locking down your social media privacy settings is an essential first step toward protecting your personal information. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you'll significantly reduce what strangers can see about you through your social accounts.

However, true privacy protection requires addressing data brokers as well. Your information is likely already available through dozens of people search websites and data aggregators, completely outside your control.

That's where GhostMyData makes a difference. Our automated removal service handles the tedious work of contacting data brokers and monitoring for re-listing—giving you back your privacy without consuming your time.

Start with a free scan to see where your data appears online. You'll get a clear picture of your digital footprint and understand exactly what information is publicly available about you. Then, let GhostMyData automate the removal process while you enjoy the peace of mind that comes with true privacy.

Your personal information is valuable—to you and to those who would exploit it. Take control today by securing your social media accounts and removing your data from third-party sources. Your future self will thank you.

How to Lock Down Your Social Media Privacy Settings