7 Secrets I Keep Off Facebook

In today’s world of oversharing, it’s surprising how often people post personal details on platforms like Facebook without a second thought. I’m quite protective of my own privacy and that of my family and friends, which is why there are certain things you won’t find on my social media.

I don’t share my personal details, like my phone number, email, or birthday, on Facebook. It’s all about preserving my peace of mind. Revealing that info can lead to unwanted spam and unsolicited contact, plus it poses security risks. Cybercriminals could exploit it to engage in identity theft or other fraudulent activities.

When I visit the Basic Info section of my Facebook profile, everything that has the option to be hidden is kept private.

2 Family and Relationships

I’m as cautious about my family and relationship details as I am about my contact information. It’s too easy for someone to snoop on my profile and potentially direct unwanted attention toward my loved ones.

My goal is to safeguard my family and friends from any potential harassment or stalking threats, which is why I keep this information off the internet.

3 Travel Plans

Facebook lets you share your travel plans as life events, including travel dates and locations. But why would I want to alert potential burglars to my absence? That’s a definite no from me. Broadcasting such information could make my home a target and jeopardize my family’s safety.

I choose not to disclose my travel plans, though I might share my travel memories once I’m safely back home—that is when it’s more secure to do so.

4 Location

The Check-In feature allows users to post various locations, such as cities, restaurants, and landmarks, on Facebook. While this can be handy for letting friends know where you are, I avoid using it for the same reason as my travel plans—protecting my home from burglars. Plus, I’m not comfortable with strangers tracking my movements, particularly during significant events.

If I need to inform someone about my location, I’ll do it face-to-face, through a direct message, or by sending them a location pin privately.

5 Friends List

There was a time when I received numerous random friend requests on Facebook from people I didn’t know. I realized these requests were often a result of our mutual friends visible in my friends list. To address this, I made my friends list private to add an extra layer of protection.

I also dislike the idea of scammers accessing my friends list to find potential victims. By keeping it concealed, I can help protect my friends from potential social engineering schemes.

6 Pictures of Children

It’s understandable that people love sharing adorable pictures of kids, especially babies, but I refrain from posting any children’s pictures on Facebook. The main reason? We’re living in an age where AI is prevalent.

Images of children can be exploited to create deepfakes—AI-manipulated images or videos that can mislead or harm individuals. I don’t want my child’s image to be misused and potentially circulated in the less savory corners of the internet.

Moreover, I don’t want to unintentionally expose a child to online bullying or make them a target for unsavory characters.

7 Personal Goals

While some individuals find value in sharing their personal goals on Facebook for motivation, accountability, or encouragement, I prefer to keep mine private. The downside of sharing is that the likes and comments can lead to a false sense of achievement.

Receiving premature gratification can diminish my motivation by tricking my brain into thinking I’ve already accomplished the goal. Instead, I prefer to utilize goal-setting apps and other strategies to keep my focus intact.

Although Facebook is a fantastic way to connect and share experiences with others, it’s essential to be discerning about what you reveal. I am deliberate about the content I share to uphold my privacy, security, and mental health, all of which are incredibly important in today’s digital landscape.