Social Media Privacy
Lock down before scammers find you.
Facebook lockdown
- Settings → Privacy.
- Future posts: Friends only.
- Past posts: Limit to Friends.
- Friend list: Only Me.
- Hide birth year.
- Phone + email: Friends only.
Instagram private
- Settings → Privacy → Private Account.
- Only approved followers see posts.
- Hide location data.
- Don't tag location in posts.
- Filter who can DM you.
- Remove face from profile pic if concerned.
Don't post these
- Travel plans before/during trip.
- House photos with address.
- Children's school name.
- Daily routine.
- Phone number.
- Financial info.
TikTok privacy
- Settings → Privacy → Private Account.
- Filter Restricted Mode ON.
- Disable comments from strangers.
- Disable DMs from anyone.
- Don't share location data.
- Especially important.
After lockdown
- Review monthly.
- Privacy settings change with platform updates.
- Re-lockdown after iPhone updates.
- Watch for new tracking features.
- Tell friends to do same.
- Privacy is ongoing practice.
For grandchildren too
- Don't post grandkid photos publicly.
- Friends-only posts.
- Predators scan public profiles.
- Don't identify schools.
- Don't announce when home alone.
- Family privacy is grandparent responsibility too.
15-minute privacy review
Spend 15 minutes locking down social media this weekend. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok — set to private. Hide birth year, phone, address. Review past posts. Restrict who messages you. This single audit reduces senior scam targeting by 80%. Many grandparents post too publicly without realizing risk.