The Important Public Service Message Kim Kardashian Didn’t Intend to Inspire

Celebrity excess in spending and self-disclosure is everywhere, and few have done a better job of pairing the two than Kim Kardashian. But, this week’s Paris robbery of the reality star (Kardashian was tied up and gagged by the perpetrators) has highlighted the importance of recognizing that there may be more than enamored fans watching your moves and your millions. Thankfully, Kardashian is safe and was physically unharmed, but she flew back home with plenty to think about and without $9 million worth of her jewelry.

We may never know if social media played a role in offering up details to the criminals in the Kardashian incident—although it’s hard to believe that would have been ignored. But what we do know is, today, individuals can easily track your location, activities and possessions if you make that information available on social media. And whether or not you’re a Kardashian, independently wealthy or just chugging along, putting info out there for public consumption isn’t without its risks.

The Kim Kardashian robbery and the buzz around its possible social media inspiration, should make us all take a closer look at the importance of protecting ourselves as we virtually disclose the moves we make. It feels safe and anonymous, until there’s a breach. And sometimes there is no time for correction. Re-examine how, when, where and what you post. And assume, every time you post, that there might be people with malicious intentions who will have access to what you launch out into the universe. This isn’t about being paranoid, it’s about protecting yourself.

Get more tips on staying safe on social networking sites.

What if you’re social media clueless? Make sure you’ve covered the bases before you share information. Enabling the geotagging feature on your smart phones can embed location tags in photographs and videos allowing those who know a little more than you do, to track your whereabouts. Security experts also suggest you delay posting when you are concerned about others knowing your location or absences etc.

As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”— especially in the Twitterverse.

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