Social Media Safety Tips for Older Adults

Social media can be a wonderful way for older adults to stay connected with family, reconnect with old friends, and join communities that share their interests. But it also comes with risks — scams, privacy concerns, misinformation, and unwanted contact from strangers.

The goal isn't to avoid social media entirely. It's to use it confidently while knowing how to protect yourself.

Choosing Your Privacy Settings

The most important thing you can do on any social media platform is control who can see your information.

Facebook Privacy Settings

Facebook is the most popular social media platform among older adults. Here's how to tighten your privacy:

1. Tap your profile picture, then tap Settings & Privacy > Settings
2. Tap Privacy (under "Audience and Visibility")
3. Set these key options:
   • Who can see your future posts? Change to Friends (not Public)
   • Who can see your friends list? Change to Only Me or Friends
   • Who can look you up using your email/phone? Change to Friends

Why this matters: When your profile is set to "Public," anyone in the world can see your posts, photos, and personal information. Scammers use public profiles to learn details about you that make their deception more convincing.

Instagram Privacy

If you use Instagram:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy
2. Turn on Private Account

This means only people you approve can see your photos and posts.

General Rule

On any social media platform, look for a "Privacy" or "Security" section in Settings. The goal is to limit who can see your content to people you actually know.

Recognizing Social Media Scams

Scammers are extremely active on social media. Here are the most common tactics targeting older adults:

Romance Scams

Someone sends you a friend request, strikes up a conversation, and over days or weeks builds what feels like a genuine emotional connection. Eventually, they ask for money — usually for an emergency, a plane ticket to visit you, or a business opportunity.

Red flags:

• Their profile is new with very few photos
• They claim to be in the military, working overseas, or on an oil rig
• The relationship moves fast emotionally
• They always have an excuse for why they can't meet in person or video call
• They eventually ask for money

Rule: Never send money to someone you've only met online, no matter how real the connection feels.

Fake Giveaways and Contests

Posts claiming you've won something — a gift card, a vacation, a new phone — if you just click a link and enter your personal information.

Rule: Legitimate companies don't announce winners through random social media posts. If you didn't enter a contest, you didn't win one.

Impersonation

Someone creates a fake account using a friend's or family member's name and photo, then sends you a message asking for money or personal information.

How to check: If you receive an unusual message from someone you know, contact them through a different method (call or text) to verify it's really them.

Phishing Links

Posts or messages containing links that lead to fake websites designed to steal your login credentials or personal information.

Rule: Don't click links in messages from people you don't know. Even with friends, be cautious if the message seems unusual or out of character.

What to Share (and What Not to Share)

Never Share

• Your full date of birth (use just the month and day if you want birthday wishes)
• Your home address
• Your phone number
• Your Social Security number or Medicare number
• When you're away from home (e.g., "Leaving for vacation for two weeks!")
• Financial information of any kind

Think Twice Before Sharing

• Photos that show the front of your home or your car's license plate
• Information about your daily routine (helps someone predict when you're home or away)
• Details about your grandchildren (their school name, their location)

Safe to Share

• Photos of hobbies, nature, cooking, gardening
• Posts about interests, books, movies, music
• Happy memories and milestones (with privacy settings configured)
• Comments and reactions on friends' posts

Dealing with Unwanted Contact

If someone you don't know sends you a friend request or message:

1. Don't accept friend requests from strangers. If you don't know them in real life, there's no obligation to connect online.
2. Block and report anyone who makes you uncomfortable. On Facebook, tap the three dots on their profile and select "Block." This is not rude — it's self-protection.
3. Don't engage with hostile or argumentative people. You owe no one a debate. Unfriend, block, and move on.

Spotting Misinformation

Social media is full of health claims, political stories, and "news" that isn't true. Before sharing a post:

• Check the source. Is it from a recognized news outlet or a random page?
• Look for other reports. If a story is real, multiple credible sources will be covering it.
• Be skeptical of emotional extremes. Fake stories are designed to make you angry or afraid, because that makes you more likely to share them.
• When in doubt, don't share. It's always better to skip a post than to spread misinformation.

Creating Strong Passwords

Your social media accounts should have strong, unique passwords:

• Use at least 12 characters
• Mix uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols
• Don't use your name, birthday, or common words
• Don't reuse the same password across multiple sites

Tip: A passphrase is often easier to remember than a random string. Something like "MyGarden2024!Roses" is both strong and memorable.

Getting Help

If you're unsure about a friend request, a suspicious message, or a confusing privacy setting, don't guess — ask for help. SafeLineCare can walk you through any social media question, from adjusting your privacy settings to evaluating whether a message is legitimate. Patient, clear guidance whenever you need it.