Complete Guide to Social Media Privacy in 2026

Social Media Privacy Risks

Social media platforms collect vast amounts of data and oversharing can enable identity theft, stalking, and social engineering.

Platform-Specific Privacy Settings

Facebook/Meta

Profile Privacy

• Set posts to Friends only
• Limit past posts visibility
• Control tagging permissions
• Hide friends list

Data Settings

• Download your data
• Off-Facebook activity
• Ad preferences
• Face recognition (disable)

Instagram

Account Privacy

• Switch to private account
• Control story sharing
• Manage tagged photos
• Limit comments

Data Controls

• Activity status (disable)
• Download your data
• Third-party apps access

TikTok

Privacy Settings

• Private account option
• Who can duet/stitch
• Download restrictions
• Comment controls

LinkedIn

Visibility Settings

• Profile viewing options
• Connection visibility
• Activity broadcasts
• Email/phone visibility

Twitter/X

Privacy Options

• Protected tweets
• Photo tagging
• Location info
• Discoverability settings

General Social Media Privacy Tips

What Not to Share

Avoid posting:

• Home address or location
• Birthday (full date)
• Phone number
• Vacation plans (while away)
• Children's information
• Workplace details
• Answers to security questions

Content Considerations

• Assume anything posted is permanent
• Check photo backgrounds for sensitive info
• Consider metadata in photos
• Think before tagging locations

Account Security

• Unique strong passwords
• Two-factor authentication
• Review connected apps
• Monitor login activity

Social Media and Data Brokers

Data brokers scrape social media for:

• Profile photos
• Employment info
• Location data
• Relationship information

Even with private accounts, data leaks through:

• Friends' public posts
• Old cached data
• Third-party apps

GhostMyData helps by removing your data from brokers who aggregate social media information.

Protect your social media privacy with a free scan.