The Danger in Being Too Social

These days, it is common to continually post on social media platforms throughout the course of an average day.  Posts consist of breakfast foods, restaurants, moments on campus, people you are with, and your current location.  It's fun to see what people are doing, and can even foster creative ideas for activities you wish to participate in come future, or places to visit.  However, with this constant knowing of others personal lives, comes a danger that many of us do not see upfront.

The way we post our daily details leaves a trail of where to find us, and this "map" has the reality to put us in serious danger to those with cruel intentions.  Such was the case this past weekend with the robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris.  Her continuous story on Snapchat gave her culprits a timely schedule of when she could be found at her temporary residence, and therefore where and when she would be made victim of an 11 million dollar heist.  The police are concluding that her continual posts showcasing her expensive jewelry and clothing is what made her target to such an act.

Are we common people subject to a repeat of what happened to the reality star? Maybe not of that magnitude, but there is some consideration to be had on what we choose to post, and to monitor who we allow to view our posts.  A suggested safety tip would be to make your social media accounts accessible to only those you know and trust, or to save posts revealing your location to a later time once you have left said location.  Keep in mind that social media is a powerful tool to reach audiences and loved ones alike, and that being said, we should not fear it, but use it in a smart way. Reason before you post, and stay safe kiddos.