#SecureSummer – Digital Footprint – Posting on social media when you’re away from home – 5 of 5
Click Safe. Travel smart.
Sharing holiday photos and plans online
When you’re on holiday or way from home, do you take pictures to remember the moment later?
If you do, you’re not alone. Lots of people take photos when they are away and share them on social media. It’s good way to keep track of what you’ve been up to, like a digital photo album. It’s also a great way of sharing what you’ve been up to with your family and friends.
Sometimes people don’t share pictures but they might write a post to share where they are and what they’ve been doing. Or they might ‘check-in’ or like a place or activity online.
Sharing holiday plans online can make your home a target for burglars and alert scammers to your absence. It may also make you vulnerable to identity theft if too much personal detail is shared.
These posts or pictures add to your Digital Footprint.
What is a Digital Footprint?
Your Digital Footprint is made up of the information you leave anytime you go online. This can include posts on social media, online purchases, website visits, and other interactions on the internet. If you have ever done anything online, you have a digital footprint.
So when you post your holiday photos on social media you are adding to your Digital Footprint.
Do you know who can see your posts, pictures and profile information? You can find this out in your Privacy Settings. This also impacts your Digital Footprint.
So how should I share my holiday photos online?
Top tips for posting about your trips away from home:
- Don’t post when you’re away, wait till you’re home
- Check your privacy settings on social media – do you know who can see you what you’re posting? Are you posting public or just to people you know and trust?
- Turn off location tagging and dates on your public posts
How can I learn more about my Digital Footprint?
To learn more about your Digital Footprint, take our short My.Lead course Cyber: Looking after our digital footprint – Lead Scotland
Read our EasyRead Easy-Read-Social-media.pdf
Watch our BSL video Staying safe on social media – YouTube
For more advice about holiday scams: Stay safe and secure your summer – Cyber Scotland
Or keep an eye on our social media as we share more top tips this summer.
Follow us on Facebook , Instagram @leadscotland or LinkedIn.
⬅️Click to go back to the first #SecureSummer overview post
For organisations
Lead Scotland are committed to delivering high quality, accessible, and free digital skills and cyber training, especially to disabled people, carers, marginalised groups, and organisations that work with these groups. Let us know what you are interested in and we can organise a session (or more) to make sure you, or the people you support, are safe online. Register your interest in this online form.
Or get in touch for a chat by emailing us at cyberproject@lead.org.uk
