Data being taken

Social media can give people access to several types of personal information from what you post or from hacking your account. This includes your:

• name
• location
• workplace
• friends and family
• usernames and email addresses
• social groups and interests

There are lots of ways people can use this information to harm you.

So, it’s important to protect your data and report anything that seems illegal or dangerous.

Account hacking

People can hack your account to use it to harm you or people you know.

For example, a scammer may hack your account so they can pretend to be you and try to:

• message people asking for money (a form of phishing)
• make fraudulent posts on marketplace
• sell fake tickets

If you want to tell us about online abuse, a hacked account, or any other harmful behaviour on social media, you can report it online, by phone, or in person.

Report it using our online form

Learn how you can report a crime to us

If someone hacks your account

If some has hacked your account, you can:

• follow steps to recover a hacked account from the National Cyber Security Centre
• read how to protect your account from future hacks from the National Cyber Security Centre
• follow our advice on what to do when an account is hacked

If someone is abusive

If anyone acts illegally or threatens another person, you can:

• report it to the social media platform
• avoid deleting posts and messages (if you want to report it)
• follow our advice on what to do if someone is abusive online

Anything illegal offline is illegal online too

It’s illegal to post anything that includes or encourages:

• violence
• drug misuse
• attempts to make you send money
• promoting terrorism
• encouraging hate or violence
• any other crime

Even if someone uses false details to post online, we can still track them.

When you post on social media, you can help protect yourself if you:

• remember posts are public and permanent (even when private or deleted, posts can be shared or stay on the internet as screenshots)
• do not share anything you would not want public
• read advice on social media safety and privacy from the National Cyber Security Centre

Never share information that can put you at risk

When you post on social media, it’s safest not to share:

• anything you do not want a stranger to see
• personal details
• anything that makes you uncomfortable
• your location (especially when you go on holiday)
• information that could upset or embarrass another person

Avoid sharing location data

Social media platforms can use location tracking data from your device’s GPS. This means strangers can see where you are, often in real time.

You can turn off location sharing and tracking in:

• the platform’s website or app
• your device settings

Keep young people safe

Lots of young people use social media to connect with friends and express themselves. But it’s important to understand the risks, especially of sharing their location.

Even if they have location tags turned off, you and your children should avoid sharing other clues to their location. These can include:

• school uniforms and badges
• street signs
• landmarks

The safest option is always to keep accounts private.

You can read advice on how to help children stay safe on social media from The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

If you're a parent, guardian, or carer, what you post online can also affect your child. Find out how to protect your child online with advice from the Safer Internet Centre.