20 Things to Never Post Online - Part 1

Social Media has been around for more than a decade and each day, thousands of people are using it for the first time. While it’s been an incredible tool for communication, it’s frequently misused. Most people don’t realize that there are things they should never post on social media. The internet is full of people that use social media for things like spam, cyber-stalking, cyber-bullying, and identity theft. But regular well-intentioned people have also had their lives negatively impacted due to their own misuse of social media.

We’ve all witnessed friendships end over online political arguments, but social media can also impact your professional life. People have been fired and businesses have been boycotted over social media posts. We normally focus on?the business impact of online technology?on this site. But this is an exception as it’s important that you protect yourself and your loved ones in addition to your business. You may think that you’re not identifiable or have your security settings mastered to limit who sees your posts. But social media services are prone to two problematic realities. First, things break (or get hacked) so you may not have the protection you thought you did. Second, some services (such as Facebook) change their policies without notice and may expose your profile. So with that being said, let’s jump into the list of things you should never post on social media.

1. How displeased you are with your employer or a client.

Many people that work aren’t happy with their jobs. So naturally, they like to post about it online. Complaining about your job, boss, coworkers, etc… may make you feel better short term. However, it could potentially solve your problem by creating a new one — unemployment. Can you really get fired for bashing your boss on social? It does sound like conspiracy theory. But the internet is ripe with stories of people getting fired over social media comments about their coworkers. There was a?case in 2010 in the Hunter region of Australia where six people were fired?over Facebook comments about their bosses and coworkers.

TikTok is famous for getting people fired.?A manager at Dollar General was fired in March 2022 for complaining about her working conditions on TikTok.?What about whistleblowing? We recommend speaking with an employment lawyer ahead of time. They can review your employment contract and ensure you have proper protections in place. This is even more important when you’re self-employed. When you bad-mouth a client online, other potential clients are going to wonder whether you’ll do the same for them. If you are angry with someone and need to get it off your chest, then write it out on paper. You’ll feel better in a day or two and then you can run the paper through a shredder.

2. That you’re displeased with your spouse or significant other.

This should go without saying, but most of us have seen this. Again, it’s easy to take to?social media?when you can hold it in anymore. Words can hurt. But there’s a difference between saying something you really don’t mean in private and sharing the same comment to your hundreds (or thousands) of social media connections. Especially if what you post humiliates him or her. It’s okay to be annoyed with your significant other. Anyone that has been in a relationship can probably relate. But sharing your problems with mutual friends and relatives makes patching things up more difficult.

There are some cases where posting is appropriate, but again, you need to speak to an expert. If your partner did something so heinous that the relationship is irreparable and/or someone is in danger (you, your partner, your children, etc…), then a post may protect you. Again, these are rare circumstances such as abuse. If your spouse forgot your anniversary, it’s probably best for the two of you to address it in private.

3. Details of any illegal activities you’ve been involved in.

You might think it would be fun to break into a rival school, vandalize a statue, and take selfies of it. Sure, you might be a hero in your school. But when the police show up at your house after your selfie was reshared a couple of hundred times, things aren’t as fun. Potential employers and clients (as well as law enforcement) could be looking at your profile. So refrain from posting about smoking pot with your friends, how you break into buildings for B.A.S.E. jumping, or ripping off your local gas station.

4. That you’re going away.

This one may less obvious. Years ago, Oprah dedicated an entire show to people who were robbed while on vacation. One common theme among the victims was that they all posted about their trip on?Facebook?either before or while they were gone. The same holds true for concerts, day trips, and even weddings. You may trust your friends, but they may have friends that are not as trustworthy.

If you live in a “safe” neighborhood, a gated community, or an apartment complex with a security desk at the entrance, you might be okay.?But it all depends on how much you trust your neighbors and the people who can see your posts online. There’s a reason why?Nest Cameras?and other alarm systems are so popular. So think twice before posting publically about your upcoming trip.

5. Your home address and phone number.

A simple web search can often yield this information. But posting it to your profile gives anyone with access to your profile easier access.?Unless you limit your friends to just people you know well, it’s better to share this information privately. Even if you’re using Facebook events to invite friends over, use “Dan’s apartment” or “Jill’s house” rather than your actual address. Given the history of hacks and security policies with services like Facebook, you don’t want your address to show up in the wrong place. If you have a home-based business, invest in a P.O. Box or virtual address. Or, ask a friend or relative that has a business location if you can use the address for a small fee. Thieves may think you keep cash or expensive equipment at your home.