Social media

To stay safe on Facebook:

I don't disclose my surname as only use my initials (I've got a double barrel surname); also my location etc. 

No profile of yourself. Example if you like football, have a picture of a football.

Basically I started again on Facebook as my previous one was out of control. I try not to accept local people.

Given up on Instagram as its spying on you and miss information.

App timers helps.

Hope this is useful. 

I have my Facebook account locked down so that only friends can see my posts and only firends of friends can ask to friend me. I don't accept friend requests even from them, unless they send me a message to introduce themselves. I never click on ads or post anything on public posts by friends or pages I follow. I only join closed groups, where my posts can only be seen by other group members. If anyone from a group messages me that I don't know, I don't respond if it's the sort of scam message that starts with "Hi, I admire your posts" of something similarly creepy that's likely to be a scammer.

Like Vardaguyn, I don't post pictures of myself or where I am. I don't give my town in my profile or post pictures of where I live. I don't say where I live in posts, or in community groups like this. Basically, I try to avoid giving personal info that could identify me. I don't use Instagram or other media sites which offer endless opportunities for spending hours scrolling.

Alexa said:

I only join closed groups, where my posts can only be seen by other group members

You probably know that this forum is open to be read by anyone even non members.

However not revealing one's identity here is a major thing with NAS so that diminishes any negative impact.

I value this place too. I don't do any other social media, its a mix of not knowing how to use it, how to keep myself safe, finding it overwhelming and lack of general interest. I remember FB first coming out and I couldn't see the attraction of it then, I know its expanded loads now, the only things I could see myself really using it for is to find trades who now seem more likely to inhabit it than have web sites or even phone numbers.

I value this place too. I don't do any other social media, its a mix of not knowing how to use it, how to keep myself safe, finding it overwhelming and lack of general interest. I remember FB first coming out and I couldn't see the attraction of it then, I know its expanded loads now, the only things I could see myself really using it for is to find trades who now seem more likely to inhabit it than have web sites or even phone numbers.