Additional tips for family members and caretakers

Many times, these links or ads take up a large portion of the screen in an effort to get you to accidentally click on them.

Being careful of where your mouse is located, what part of the page you scroll on, or where your fingers are is a start to avoiding accidental clicks. Be intentional with your clicking so you don’t stumble into something unpleasant.

7. Update your security settings

While it may look like only younger generations know what they’re doing when it comes to social media safety, it’s possible for anyone to be security savvy. You’ll want to start by taking a look at your security settings to make sure you aren’t sharing with more people than you’d like.

Setting your account to private and having to approve follow or friend requests is the next step. Also, stopping Facebook tracking can be an extra barrier against targeted ads that may be out to steal your information.

Depending on your goals, you can set your profile to show certain information to certain people. If you’re doing outreach for an organization, but still want to share pics of grandkids or nieces and nephews, you can create groups of trusted friends who see your personal shares. There are plenty of ways to customize your social media experience.

8. Check sources before you share

This tip is all about protecting your good name. You want to make sure you don’t lose credibility with friends and family by being the person who always shares spam or worse.

As we mentioned in the beginning, social media is like the Wild West. Anyone who can access the internet can create a profile or a website and pretend to be an expert.

Whether it’s news, contests, videos, memes, health information, or any other topic, make sure you’re sharing your information from a credible, verified source.

The University of Washington University Libraries website has a helpful tool for checking sources. The tool is meant for writing students, but the knowledge there can apply to anyone.

9. Don’t get c

Online dating can open up a world of possibilities, especially if it’s Kolla in been a while since you’ve been in the dating pool. It’s a low-stress, low-commitment way to meet other singles. But social media is full of honeypot and romance scammers you need to watch out for.

These individuals pretend to be looking for a relationship in an effort to get you to send them personal details, gifts, and even money. If you’d like to use the internet to search for someone to hang out with, use a verified match site like Bumble or Meetup. There’s also the option to use social media to find groups of people who share your hobbies and interests and meet up with them. Plenty of romantic relationships start from discovering a shared interest.

If you’re reading this looking for a way to protect older adults from fraudulent practices on social media, please look at the additional tips below. It may be difficult to have these conversations with someone you care about, but remember that being concerned and being respectful can go hand in hand.

The person you’re looking to protect should know this comes from a place of caring rather than admonishment. If you’re still concerned about being disrespectful or insensitive, suggest the two of you approach these tips as a way to learn together.

1. Practice tough love

Remember that social media can be a way to combat loneliness, especially for people in the middle of a big life transition such as losing a partner, becoming an empty nester, or retiring from a job. Making sure your loved one is safe can be achieved through honesty, education, and mutual respect for each other’s knowledge and interests.