Privacy on social media is something most of us think about only after a problem happens, such as a stranger seeing our photos, an employer finding an old post, or a scammer using our details to impersonate us. By then, the information is already out there, and it is very hard to take back. The good news is that a few simple settings and habits can protect your privacy on social media a great deal, and they take less time to set up than you might think. In this guide, we explain what social media companies collect, how to lock down your accounts, and how to share safely in 2026.
What Do Social Media Companies Collect About You?
Social media companies collect far more than the photos and posts you share. They collect the information you give them when you sign up, such as your name, email address, phone number, and date of birth, and they collect the information you share in your profile, your posts, your comments, and your messages. They also collect information about how you use the app, including what you click on, how long you look at a post, who you follow, and where you are when you use it. Many apps also collect data from your device, such as your contacts, your location, and the other apps you have installed, if you give them permission to do so. They use this data to show you adverts, to recommend content, and to improve their service, and they may share it with advertisers, partners, and, in some cases, other companies. Privacy on social media is not just about who can see your posts. It is also about how much data the company itself collects, and what it does with that data. You cannot stop a social media company from collecting some data, because that is how the service works, but you can limit what you share, you can turn off some tracking, and you can choose which apps you use and how you use them.
Lock Down Your Privacy Settings
The most important step for privacy on social media is to check your privacy settings, and to do so on every platform you use. Start by making your account private, if that option exists. On Instagram, TikTok, and X, a private account means only people you approve can see your posts, while a public account means anyone on the internet can see them. On Facebook, you can choose who can see your posts, who can send you friend requests, and who can find you by searching for your name or your phone number. Next, check who can tag you, mention you, or share your posts. Turn off the option that lets anyone tag you in a photo, and turn on the option that asks you to approve tags before they appear on your profile. Check your location settings, and turn off location sharing for your posts, because a photo with a location tag can reveal where you live, where you work, and where your children go to school. Check which apps and websites are connected to your social media accounts, and remove any that you do not recognise or no longer use. Finally, turn on two-factor authentication, which adds an extra check when you sign in from a new device, and which makes it much harder for someone to take over your account, even if they know your password.
Think Before You Post
Privacy settings can help, but they cannot protect you from the things you post yourself. Before you share a photo, a video, or a status update, take a moment to think about who might see it, and what they might learn from it. A photo of your home can reveal your address, a photo of your car can reveal your number plate, and a photo of a boarding pass can reveal your full name and your travel plans. A post about your holiday can tell a burglar that your home is empty, and a post about your child’s school can tell a stranger where to find them. Even a simple birthday post can reveal your date of birth, which is often used to verify your identity. It is also worth thinking about the future. A post that seems funny today may look very different to an employer, a university, or a client in five years time, and it is very hard to delete something once it has been shared, screenshotted, or reposted. A good rule is to ask yourself whether you would be happy for your post to appear on the front page of a newspaper, with your name on it. If the answer is no, do not post it, or share it only with a small group of trusted friends. You should also be careful about what other people post about you, and ask them to take down a photo or a post if you are not happy with it.
Protect Yourself From Scams and Impersonation
Social media is a popular place for scammers, because it is easy to create a fake account, to copy someone’s photos, and to send messages that look genuine. One common scam is impersonation, where a scammer creates an account that looks like yours, or like a friend’s account, and then sends messages to your friends asking for money or for personal information. Another common scam is a fake giveaway or a fake job offer, which asks you to click a link, to enter your password, or to pay a fee. To protect yourself, be careful about friend requests and messages from people you do not know, especially if they ask you to click a link, to download a file, or to share a code. Check the account carefully. Does it have very few followers, does it use a stock photo, does it have spelling mistakes, or does it ask you to do something urgent? If so, it may be a scam. Do not share verification codes, passwords, or one-time codes with anyone, even if they claim to be from the platform or from a friend. If you think an account is impersonating you or a friend, report it to the platform, and tell your friends about it, so they do not fall for it. If you want to reduce your digital footprint further, read our guide on how to delete old accounts and reduce your digital footprint, and our guide on how to protect your kids online, which covers how to keep children safe on social media as well.
Control Tracking, Adverts, and Data Sharing
Even if your posts are private, social media companies still track what you do, and they use that data to show you adverts. You can limit this tracking, although you cannot stop it completely. On your phone, go to your privacy settings and turn off the option that allows apps to track you across other apps and websites. On each social media app, look for the settings that control adverts, personalisation, and data sharing, and turn off the ones you do not want. You can also download a copy of the data that a platform holds about you, which is a useful way to see what it has collected, and you can ask it to delete some of that data, although it may keep some data for legal or security reasons. Be careful about the permissions you give to apps. A social media app does not need access to your contacts, your microphone, or your location to work, and you can turn off those permissions in your phone’s settings. You should also be careful about quizzes, games, and third-party apps that ask you to sign in with your social media account, because they may collect a great deal of data about you, and they may share it with others. If you use a quiz or a game, check what data it asks for, and do not give it access to your friends list or your private messages.
What to Do If Your Privacy Is Breached
If you discover that your photos, your personal information, or your account have been shared without your permission, act quickly. First, change your password, and turn on two-factor authentication if you have not already done so. Check your account settings to see whether your email address, your phone number, or your recovery options have been changed, and change them back if they have. Report the content to the platform, and ask for it to be removed, especially if it includes your address, your phone number, or photos of your children. If someone is impersonating you, report the fake account, and tell your friends to report it as well. If you have been harassed or threatened, save evidence, such as screenshots and messages, and report it to the platform and, if necessary, to the police. If your personal information has been shared publicly, you can ask search engines to remove it from their results in some cases, and you can contact the website that published it and ask for it to be taken down. It is also worth checking whether your email address or your passwords have appeared in a data breach, and changing any passwords that have been exposed. Privacy breaches can be upsetting, but acting quickly, and knowing who to report them to, can limit the damage.
Building Good Privacy Habits
Protecting your privacy on social media is not a one-time task, but a habit that you build over time. Set aside a few minutes every few months to review your privacy settings, because platforms change them often, and a setting that was private last year may have been reset by an update. Review your friends and followers, and remove anyone you do not know or no longer trust. Delete old posts and photos that you no longer want to share, and be careful about what you post in the future. Use a different password for each social media account, and use a password manager to keep track of them. Turn on two-factor authentication on every account that offers it. Think about which platforms you really need, and consider deleting accounts that you no longer use, because an old, forgotten account can be hacked and used to impersonate you. Talk to your family, especially children and older relatives, about privacy on social media, because they may not know the risks, and they may need help to set up their accounts safely. With a little time and attention, you can enjoy social media without giving away more of your life than you intended.
Conclusion
Privacy on social media is about more than who can see your posts. It is about what data companies collect, what you share yourself, and how scammers can use that information. Make your accounts private, check your settings regularly, think before you post, and be careful about links, messages, and third-party apps. Turn on two-factor authentication, limit tracking and permissions, and act quickly if your privacy is breached. These steps will not make you invisible online, but they will give you much more control over your personal information, and they will help you use social media safely in 2026 and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my social media accounts private?
On most platforms, go to Settings, then Privacy, and turn on the private account option. On Facebook, you can also choose who can see your posts, who can send you friend requests, and who can find you by searching for your name.
What information should I never share on social media?
Never share your full address, your phone number, your date of birth, your passwords, or photos of your boarding pass, your driving licence, or your bank cards. Be careful about photos that reveal where you live, work, or go to school.
Can social media companies sell my data?
Social media companies usually do not sell your personal data directly, but they do share it with advertisers and partners, and they use it to show you targeted adverts. You can limit this by turning off tracking and personalisation in your settings.
How do I know if someone is impersonating me?
Search for your name on the platform, and check whether there is an account using your photos or your name that you did not create. If you find one, report it to the platform, and tell your friends to report it as well.
Should I delete social media accounts I no longer use?
Yes, if you no longer use an account, it is safer to delete it than to leave it active, because an old account can be hacked and used to impersonate you, and it may still hold personal information about you.