How to Avoid Being Stalked on Social Media

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Stay safe from stalkers online with this handy guide
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Have you ever felt like you're being watched on social media? You're definitely not alone! Social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook are great for connecting with old and new friends, but these services are also paradise for cyberstalkers. Whether you're dealing with an obsessive stalker or just want to protect yourself in advance, there are still ways you can enjoy social media without compromising your safety. This wikiHow article will show you 15 easy ways you can avoid stalking on social media, from making privacy tweaks to your profile to changing how you share information online.

Things You Should Know

  • Keep your social media profiles private and limit the information you share.
  • If you're being stalked, tell your friends not to communicate with your stalkers or any suspicious accounts.
  • Keep a detailed log of each stalking interaction and report it to the proper authorities.
  • Keep your phone, computer, and tablet up-to-date and secure to avoid spyware and stalkerware.
1

Make your profiles private.

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    Making your posts and profile private can prevent potential stalkers from seeing information about you, including your photos, videos, and profile information.
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2

Don't tag your location.

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    Tagging your location on posts makes it easy for people to find you in the real world. This can be dangerous because it can allow a stalker to know where you are, whether you're at home, or if you're alone. Go to the app's settings on your phone and disable geotagging or location features.
3

Hide your friend list.

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    They also might contact your friends to try to get closer to you. If the app you're using has the option to hide your friend list (like Facebook ), you should do so.
    • Let your friends know about the stalker and not to respond to strange messages or contact requests.
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4

Use different usernames and photos on each platform.

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    Similarly, using a different profile photo on each platform makes it hard for cyberstalkers to use reverse image search tools to find your profile photo elsewhere on the internet.
    • If your profile picture is public, consider using a picture that is not a close-up of you. You might want to post a picture of something that is not you so it's not obvious that it's your profile.
5

Be careful when accepting new friends and follows.

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    Cyberstalkers may create convincing fake accounts that impersonate your friends, celebrities, or even unassuming strangers who share common interests in hopes of getting close to you.
    • If you get a new friend or follow request, research it fully without contacting the person directly.
    • Do you have mutual friends with the person sending the request? Cyberstalkers may follow your friends before sending you a request so the request looks more convincing. Ask your mutuals how long they've been connected to that person online—if the connection is recent, it could be your stalker playing games.
    • If you think someone has ill intentions, block them. Then, let your friends know that a stalker might reach out to them to get to you.
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6

Don't share more information than necessary.

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    The more information you make public, the more stalkers and cyberbullies can use that information to their advantage. If using your real name is not required by the social media network, use a creative fake name instead. [1]
    • While many social media networks provide extensive profiles to users that can be fun to fill out, avoid filling out the parts of your profile that aren't required by the service. For example, if it's not required to enter your birthdate or phone number, don't provide this information.
    • Sharing photos of the places you visit throughout the day can be fun, but if the wrong person gets a hold of those photos, they'll know exactly how to find you.
    • Never share your contact information publicly on social media—if you need to give somebody your phone number, do it in a private message.
7

Secure your computer, phone, and tablet.

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    To minimize your chances of being hacked, it's important to take basic security precautions every time you get online.
    • Use antivirus software on your computer and keep it up to date.
    • Scan your computer for spyware and other malware often.
    • When you connect to public Wi-Fi at school, at the airport, in a café, or anywhere else, use a VPN.
    • Always use unique secure passwords .
    • Enable two-step authentication whenever available.
    • Avoid installing apps that want to access your social media and email accounts and/or contact lists.
    • Never leave your computer or phone unattended.
    • Use a lock screen password or biometric to prevent others from logging in when you're not around.
    • If you use an account from another computer, log out before you leave.
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8

Delete your old accounts.

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    This is especially important if the sites have personal information or photos of you. Think back to any accounts you opened when you were younger and have since abandoned. Log on, then delete the account entirely.
    • You might need to change the password if you’ve forgotten it.
9

Remove yourself from search engines.

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    Search for your full name, nicknames, phone number, email address, and your mailing address. You can also try finding photos of yourself . If you find anything that concerns you, there are ways to remove your name from search engines and other sites, and even delete yourself from the internet.
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10

State your boundaries once and cut off contact.

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    After that, stop engaging with the stalker completely. Don't respond to any more messages or requests from the stalker once you've told them to stop, and block any accounts they use to communicate with you. A stalker might try to escalate the situation or say things they know will upset or intrigue you in order to keep you engaged. Don’t take the bait. [3]
    • Whether you know the stalker in person or only know them online, don't contact them at all.
11

Block suspicious accounts.

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    The block feature on every platform is different, so you may not be able to hide everything, but it can do something to stave them off.
    • TikTok , Facebook, Twitter , Tinder, Tumblr, and Instagram all have options to completely block a person or a profile.
    • If they create new accounts, block those, too.
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12

Turn off messages from accounts you don't follow.

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    Some social media apps, including Facebook and Snapchat , let you turn off messaging so people you're not connected with can't contact you. This means that even if a stalker creates an alternate profile, they still can't contact you. [4]
13

Keep photos private and don't tag them.

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    Once you link to someone else's profile through tagging, privacy holes open. A person can see any other pictures of you or your family and friends, and they'll also see the comments you left (and the comments people left about you). Your friends' photo privacy settings could affect your safety.
    • Facebook and Instagram have privacy settings you can control to limit who can tag you in photos, including the option to approve tags before they appear on your profile.
    • Make any online photo albums private, too, especially if you embed pictures from those albums onto your social media profiles. For example, if you use a cloud or photo sharing platform, make all of your albums private or shareable only by you.
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14

Change your email address and other contact info.

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    Change your email address if they contact you via email. You can also recreate your social media accounts with new usernames and photos and make them private from the start. Even if you've built up a following, it's not worth sacrificing your safety and sanity to keep an account that's targeted by a stalker.
15

Report threatening activity.

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    Cyberstalking is illegal and prosecutable in most regions. You might be able to get an order of protection or prosecute the person.
    • Keep a log of each contact so you can supply that information to the police. Record all dates, times, usernames, IP addresses , and methods of contact, along with dated screenshots and copies of all messages. [5]
    • When going to the police, state why you feel threatened and what you want to be done.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    I did all the things suggested and could not shake this lunatic freak loose. What now?
    Community Answer
    If all other options do not work, you will need to get the police involved.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    What if my stalker is using multiple accounts?
    Community Answer
    If the stalker has multiple accounts, block as many as possible and set all of your accounts to private. See if there is a way to report all of their accounts and maybe take some time off the internet. Also, don't use location on social media.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • Even if your profiles are private, people can find the original version of your profile picture or avatar (the high resolution one) and download it. Upload pictures in lower resolution so people can't zoom in to see the details.
        Thanks
      • Some blog-based social media sites like Tumblr and WordPress let you install IP address logging tools like Statcounter. If you have a blog, use an IP logger to capture the stalker's IP address, which you can then submit to authorities.
        Thanks
      • If you're being stalked, know that it's not your fault. Anyone can take all of the proper precautions and still wind up a victim of cyberstalking.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.getsafeonline.org/personal/articles/privacy/
      2. ↑ https://support.google.com/legal/answer/10769224
      3. ↑ https://www.rainn.org/articles/stalking
      4. ↑ Sarah Schewitz, PsyD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 15 April 2019.
      5. ↑ https://www.victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au/the-crime/types-of-crime/stalking

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