In the News
Just how public is the information used on social media platforms? In Millions of Instagram influencers had their private contact data scraped and exposed, Zack Whittaker at TechCrunch discusses a public database run by a marketing firm based in India which stored the public and private account information of millions of prominent Instagram influencers and celebrities. Whittaker explains that those potentially impacted by this vulnerable database are Instagram users who received monetary compensation for posting ads on their accounts. Whittaker clarifies that the database has been removed and that Instagram’s parent company, Facebook, is investigating the matter.
Our Take
Social media platforms and Instagram, in particular, are used by billions of people across the globe daily. The enormous following that certain users hold on these accounts allow for a prosperous career of economic opportunity, but it also inherently forces for more and more personal information to be shared on these platforms. While most Instagram and social media users understand that the purpose of such platforms is for sharing personal information with either a select group of individuals or with the general public, the reality of how much data can be compiled from these accounts might be more shocking than it appears. Data privacy on social media platforms means not only the information that you choose to share but also the more personal and potentially sensitive information used to create an account. Especially when third-parties such as the marketing firm implicated in this incident are involved, taking the extra precaution to understand who may have access to your data and how much is crucial.
Recommendations
How can you protect your privacy on social media platforms?
- Understand the risks of putting your personal information into the world, and only share what you have to
- Use safe password practices when creating online accounts, and take advantage of Multi-factor Authentication where possible
- Utilize additional security/privacy measures and settings on apps, accounts, and platforms whenever possible
- Limit the number of accounts that have access to your financial payment option
- Use privacy settings on your accounts when they are available
- Know your rights when it comes to data use and storage