Social media has rapidly grown to be the most prominent platform people use to make a living for themselves. It has proven to be very effective because people like content creators can generate income out of sharing just about everything on social media.
Since almost everything now is done digitally, it is much easier to base your business, services and even your lifestyle on social media, as long as you are making money out of it. However, there’s always a downside to everything that works well.
Several publications highlight that there are cons of sharing your life too much on social media, whether it’s just for personal purposes or business-related reasons.
Identity theft: This is the most obvious consequence of having too much of your information available online. People gain access to who you are and it is much easier for them to pretend to be you. According to Keeper Security, identity theft involves stealing a victim’s personally identifiable information (PII) without permission, using it to impersonate them and commit fraud. “A person’s social media profile can share personal details which can help cyber criminals steal their identity. Once a cybercriminal steals a victim’s identity, they can impersonate the victim to commit crimes such as credit card fraud.”
Cyber harassment: The above source also mentions that sharing a lot of your details can make you prone to cyber harassment, which refers to inappropriate online behaviour, including cyberstalking and cyberbullying, which uses technology to monitor a victim’s activities and make them fear for their safety.
May affect your professional life: Oversharing personal content on social media can negatively impact your professional reputation and potentially affect job opportunities, states Directive.
Emotional strain: It is also stated by the above publication that “Constantly sharing personal details and seeking validation through social media can negatively impact mental health.” The source further explains that this could potentially lead to comparisons, feelings of inadequacy, and dependence on external validation.
Also see: 5 Signs you may be a social media addict
