Sharing personal content or navigating online spaces carries real risks, and most of them are manageable with a few consistent habits.
Before you share anything
- Assume permanence. Anything posted can be copied, screenshotted, and redistributed. Share only what you could live with seeing anywhere.
- Check privacy settings deliberately. Default settings are designed for the platform, not for you. Review who can see your profile, posts, and messages before posting.
- Separate identities if you need to. Using a distinct account for sensitive spaces keeps your main footprint clean and gives you an off-ramp.
Account hygiene
- Unique passwords per account, managed with a password manager.
- Two-factor authentication enabled wherever offered.
- Be skeptical of direct messages from strangers, especially ones that move quickly toward trust or money.
If something goes wrong
- Do not delete evidence first. Screenshots and saved copies are what reporting processes actually use.
- Report within the platform using its official channels before anything else.
- Know your external options:
- Cyber Civil Rights Initiative — help and resources for people dealing with non-consensual sharing of intimate images, including reporting steps and legal options.
- Electronic Frontier Foundation — privacy guidance, security tools, and advocacy for people whose online rights are being violated.
The one rule that covers most cases
If a situation makes you uncomfortable, you do not owe it your continued participation. Leaving is always available, and it is never a failure.
This page provides general information only. It is not legal or professional advice.