Summer holiday advice for social media
From a palm tree-laden Insta-snap to broadcasting your beach beverages on Facebook, we’re all guilty of the occasional ‘holiday brag’ on social media. As we head into peak summer holiday season it’s a great time to go over a few social media safety tips.
It’s extremely tempting to show our wonderful holiday snaps on Facebook and Instagram etc. and let’s face it, a little bit of showing off as you top up that tan or indulge in the latest ‘sausage legs’ meme.
But have you ever thought of the consequences of an innocuous pic?
In Northern Ireland, around one in ten people share on social media how long and where they are going on holiday, while one in eight post pictures and statuses while they are away. Surveys also show that eight per cent of the UK public return home to a house that has been burgled and less than a quarter of people believe that there could be a risk of posting about their holidays online.
Leaving your home empty is irresistible to thieves and there are many ways to ensure your home is safe while you are away.
Ask a neighbour to keep an eye on your home whilst you are away or maybe even see if they can go in every now and again to check everything is safe. If you can’t find a friend or neighbour to check your house for you, you can always make your house look as though it is occupied. Do this by cancelling milk or newspaper deliveries so that it is not seen outside your house which will also save you money! You can also install timer switches on lights and radios which will turn them on and off at certain times.
Sign up to the Royal Mail Keepsafe. Don’t let mail pile up on your doorstep while you’re not there: a Keepsafe will help keep your home and identity safe by holding onto your mail while you’re away and safely returning it once you’re back.
You can also contact the local police to inform them your house will be empty as you go on holidays.
Leaving your curtains closed can be risky as it can make your house look unoccupied, however you don’t want burglars to see into your home. If you have blinds make sure they are down instead as they still let light in but people cannot see into your home.
Houses with no security measures are twice as likely to be burgled compared to those with basic security who have a 2% chance of burglary.
As well as increasing the risk of a burglary, any claims you make on your home insurance after a break-in could be rejected because you didn’t take ‘reasonable care’ to keep your property safe.
Some insurers will check your social media activity before paying out, and those who check-in their location on Facebook could be refused a payout. Amanda Bathory, insurance editor at Gocompare.com, says: “It isn’t enough to double check your windows and doors these days. Posting your whereabouts on social media leaves the door wide open for criminals to plot and execute a burglary. Make sure you tighten your security online by setting your privacy to the highest setting – if you really need to post that cheeky beach selfie, make sure only a circle of people you trust can see it.”
Most importantly, enjoy your holiday and stay safe at home and away.