The Perils of Posting: Reasons NOT to Share Your Travels on Social Media

At least not until you are home. According to one survey by a travel insurance company, nearly one-third of active social media users are at risk of a home break-in by alerting the bad guys through their posts. So, as high travel season approaches, social media experts are reminding travelers keen to share their vacation experiences to be aware of the risks of posting.

The survey by the Allstate Insurance Company reveals that:

Over half of those planning to travel out of the country this summer plan to post about their trip on social media.
Nearly 10% post before their trip to share their plans; and
Almost one-third post during their trip to show they are traveling – a number that climbs to nearly 40% among parents (as opposed to those traveling without kids).

Safety First

The problem, note experts, is that posting that selfie on the beach, cruise ship or in front of a famous landmark shines a bright spotlight on the fact that the poster’s home is empty – or even, in the case of posting before their trip – advertises a lengthy window when there will be no one at home! Criminals are no strangers to using the internet and social media for nefarious purposes, so those posts put your home at risk for break-ins and theft.

The insurance company’s own data reveals that, over the last decade, property theft has risen during summer holidays, peaking in August, making summer a critical time to prioritize home safety and security.

Ironically, that same survey shows that

A strong majority (62%) say their main concern is making sure their home is safe while they’re away; yet
15% shockingly say sharing on social media is a higher priority than protecting their homes from a break-in.

And while increasingly popular technology like smart cameras and alarm systems (in addition to old-fashioned helpful or nosy neighbors!) contribute to the security of homes while their residents are away, travelers should also take precautions to mitigate the risk of their social media posts.

Smart Use of Your Smart Phone

It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t post those incredible vacation pics. Just delay posts until you’re not showing your hand to potential thieves.

Here are some more tips from the experts for social media safe travel:

Not just when you travel abroad or during the holidays, but year-round, use your phone’s privacy settings to remove geolocation data from digital pictures and avoid sharing images of your street address or home number.
Before a trip, avoid posting countdowns. If you absolutely must, create a smaller trusted chat group to keep those closest to you informed of your plans.
Setting social media accounts to “private” rather than public allows more control over who sees your content. Even then, keep dates and other travel plans vague.

And of course, make sure everyone in your household is also following the same precautions!