No matter how old you are, where you live, or what kind of a job you have, you must have an online presence. With the widespread use of the internet, social media platforms have become an essential part of our daily life.

Regardless of how many online platforms you use, we all have a certain level of online presence that anyone can access. So, internet users are strongly advised to be careful about what they share online.

Even if you feel comfortable and safe sharing just about anything from your life and posting everything online, there are some details you should always keep to yourself.

1.   Confidential files and documents

Confidential files and documents contain plenty of information that should never be shared with people who are not granted access. Therefore, don’t post files, the information mentioned in the document, or pictures of the document online.

Some documents are so vital that it’s not even allowed to take a photo of them, let alone share the details with other internet users.

Sharing such files can lead to numerous consequences, depending on the document’s nature. If it’s a professional document, you could be fired and face a judicial trial. On the other hand, personal documents can end with identity theft and other cybercrimes.

2.   Banking and financial information

Keeping your finances and banking details to yourself is equally important online and offline. Many people make the mistake of sharing their credit or debit card pictures, which contain all of the information needed for a transaction. Therefore, people can easily take advantage of your account and leave you penniless.

Nevertheless, cards aren’t the only item containing your banking information. Contracts, balance confirmations, and any other piece of paperwork contain more information than hackers need to use the funds from your account. It is why you should never share your financial info.

3.   Physical location details

Although many apps come with a check-in feature, think twice about it before using it next time. By sharing your physical location, you’re letting the entire world know exactly where you’re located. Although this may sound awesome at first glance, not many good things can come out of it. You might already know that vacation plans can be dangerous if posted online. For instance, burglars will know exactly when your house will be empty.

Thus, people who have been following you for some time can use this opportunity to rob your home, find you, and use your location in many other ways to gain some kind of benefit. Don’t fall into the trap, and make sure your location tracker is disabled. Additionally, do not boast about your holiday dates and locations.

To be even safer, you can get a tool like Atlas VPN to hide your location associated with your IP address. The latter makes it possible for all websites and apps to read your approximate location. You can also take it a step further and disable location tracking on your smartphone.

4.   Inappropriate photos or videos

It’s not uncommon for people to take special photos for their partners or have videos representing their intimate moments. So, if you have such content on your devices, make sure to store them in a very safe place where people can’t access them.

Furthermore, don’t share such photos or videos online. Such files can lead to numerous issues, especially with employers, family members, and friends. Of course, some photos might seem harmless enough. However, remember that it is difficult to completely remove information from the internet.

5.   Photos or videos of other people

Our phones are always in our hands, and many people like to document special moments with other people. Whether this is something candid, emotional, or funny, in your opinion, never post it online without getting approval from people present in the photo or video.

If you post it without receiving the thumbs up, other users can report your content and even take you to trial. Although you won’t end up in jail for this, you’ll undoubtedly lose a lot of money, entirely unnecessarily.

6.   Offensive jokes

There are plenty of offensive jokes out there. Even if you recently heard one from a friend or a colleague and found it hilarious, that’s not the sign you should publish it online.

Many of your friends and acquaintances can find the joke offensive. Soon enough, your social media will be filled with rude comments from people you do and don’t know. Your reputation can be entirely ruined with a single bad joke, so make sure it never comes to that.

The bottom line

Even though the internet has become an essential part of our lives, it’s still important how we behave and present ourselves online.

Wrong steps and actions can come with plenty of severe consequences. From getting fines, losing a job, and having a ruined reputation, you’ll want to consider all your next online posts carefully.