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.
4

Use different usernames and photos on each platform.

  1. Using a unique username on each social media app makes it hard for stalkers to find your other accounts. 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.

  1. If someone you don't know sends you a follow or friend request, proceed with caution. 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.

  1. Resist the urge to reveal personal information on social media. 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.

  1. A diligent stalker may try to hack your accounts and devices. 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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9

Remove yourself from search engines.

  1. Try Googling yourself to see what information stalkers might find. 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.

  1. If you're being stalked, tell the stalker to stop contacting you. 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.
13

Keep photos private and don't tag them.

  1. Don't tag others, and don't allow others to tag you. 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.

  1. If a cyberstalker is fixated on you, make yourself difficult to find. 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.

  1. If you feel threatened and fear for your safety, reach out to authorities for help. 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

  • Question
    I did all the things suggested and could not shake this lunatic freak loose. What now?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    If all other options do not work, you will need to get the police involved.
  • Question
    What if my stalker is using multiple accounts?
    Community Answer
    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.
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About This Article

Sarah Schewitz, PsyD
Co-authored by:
Licensed Psychologist
This article was co-authored by Sarah Schewitz, PsyD and by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Sarah Schewitz, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist by the California Board of Psychology with over 10 years of experience. She received her Psy.D. from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2011. She is the founder of Couples Learn, an online psychology practice helping couples and individuals improve and change their patterns in love and relationships. This article has been viewed 98,247 times.
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Co-authors: 26
Updated: December 5, 2022
Views: 98,247
Categories: Social Media
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