10 Things You Should Never Post on Social Media (No Matter How Tempting)

Picture this: it’s January 2026, and Sarah beams as she posts sun-soaked beach snaps from her family holiday. Likes pour in from mates and followers. She adds a check-in tag at her villa. Two days later, she returns to a smashed front door and empty house. Thieves had watched her feed, timed their move perfectly. Stories like Sarah’s spike amid rising AI scams and tougher privacy rules. California’s CCPA now flags kids’ data under 16 as sensitive, with age checks that hoard more details. The TAKE IT DOWN Act forces platforms to scrub non-consent intimate images, including AI deepfakes, in 48 hours. Temptations pull hard; that quick share feels harmless. Yet tracking tech paints a full picture of your life. Bits from posts build a map for crooks, stalkers, or hackers. This guide flags 10 things you should never post, grouped into location risks, health leaks, and wallet traps. Small habits keep you safe.

Why Location Shares Put You and Your Family in the Crosshairs

Apps now track spots down to metres, and states treat this as sensitive data in 2026. A single post rarely dooms you. But stack them, and the mosaic effect hands thieves or stalkers your routine. Burglars scout empty homes; obsessives plot closer. Lock location services. Mute tags before sharing. These three posts light a beacon on your door.

Your Pinpoint Location from Phone or App

That live check-in at a cafe screams “here I am”. Apps grab exact geolocation, now flagged as high-risk. Stalkers ping your history; thieves note when you leave work. In 2026, a London case saw burglars hit a flat after repeated pub tags. The owner lost jewellery and tech. Tempting for mates to join, right? Skip it. Delete location data post-upload. Turn off live sharing in settings. Burglars wait till your dot moves far. One woman in Manchester posted gym runs; her ex tracked her home. Vague “out and about” dodges the risk. Platforms let you scrub metadata from pics too. Stay off the map.

Photos or Details About Your Kids

Proud parents snap playground fun or school uniforms. But under-16 info counts as sensitive under CCPA updates. Hackers twist faces into deepfakes or sell data. Platforms scan and ban public kid posts now. A Bristol mum shared birthday pics; fakes popped up online weeks later. Creeps messaged her as “friends”. The pull to boast runs deep. Switch to private family albums. Get kids’ nod first, even young ones. No names, no schools. One dad posted a park outing; scammers posed as lost child services. Heartache followed. Apps like private WhatsApp groups work fine. Public feeds? Off limits.

Home Address or ‘Away on Holiday’ Updates

“Off to Spain for two weeks!” with a house pic. Old habit, fresh danger. It pairs with routines for “rob me” signals. 2026 saw break-ins soar from such posts; credential stuffing hits linked accounts too. A family in Leeds returned to stripped rooms after an Insta story. Thieves pried doors while they flew. Tempting to count down trips. Wait till back; post “great weekend away”. Vague beats vivid. Delete old profiles quarterly. Check who sees your stories. One bloke shared a postcode for deliveries; parcels vanished, then valuables. Blur plates, crop signs. Safe shares build hype without the hook.

Private Health and Body Data That Feeds Identity Thieves

Four intimate shares now break laws if mishandled. Maryland labels health data sensitive; biometrics leak from age scans. Hackers sell it or craft scams. Once online, it lingers forever. Flip privacy defaults on. Dodge these to starve the black market.

Medical History or Current Health Woes

“I beat cancer” or “lupus flares again”. Support floods in, but so do risks. Details fuel sales or blackmail; 2026 fines hit platforms hard. A poster shared symptoms; fake pill sellers spammed her. Bills piled from dodgy sites. Tempting amid pain. Use anonymous forums instead. Keep chats with doctors offline. One flu rant led to phishing “cure” links that stole bank info. Platforms flag medical posts now. Private groups for mates only. Health stays yours.

Clear Selfies for Age Checks or Scans

Full-face shots for verification feed biometric stores. Platforms hold them, but spills happen. AI turns them into deepfakes fast. Voluntary uploads tempt for access. Blur or skip. A teen’s clear pic sparked fake nudes under the TAKE IT DOWN Act. Platforms yank them, damage sticks. Use wallet scans or none. One user posted “age verified” selfie; clones hit revenge sites. Cover eyes, crop tight. Data stays locked.

Nude or Close-Up Intimate Shots

Private groups feel safe. AI deepfakes ignite the TAKE IT DOWN Act; removal takes 48 hours max. Leaks scar forever. A couple shared steamy snaps; ex-partner dumped them public. Blackmail ensued. Tempting in heat. Share nothing visual. Words over pics. Platforms boot groups fast now. One leak cost a job. Trust breaks easy.

Passwords or Login Hints You Jot Down

“Password is dog’s birthday!” Frustration posts gold to scammers. Old profiles hold keys; stuffing attacks rose in 2026. A shared hint unlocked banks via linked mail. Tempting vent. Use managers. Change all quarterly. Dormant accounts drain wallets quiet.

Work Cash and App Permissions That Cost You Dearly

Last three strike job and cash. Meta-style fines spotlight consent tricks. Dark patterns push “accept all”. Review permissions. Pause old apps. These shares empty pockets.

Pay Slips Job Offers or Bank Hints

New salary snap or “bonus hit!”. Brags spark phishing. Fines loom for poor consents. A posted payslip led to cloned emails; savings vanished. Tempting flex. Private chats with mates. Secure apps only. One offer share drew fake HR calls.

Screenshots of Camera Mic or Contacts Access

“New app granted all!” Proof invites spies. QR codes need not full run. Turn off extras. A shared mic grant let hackers listen. Tempting show-off. Risks stalk.

Any Click on Tricky Accept All Buttons

Quick taps spread data wide. Regulators fine millions, you foot bills. Custom decline always. Tempting speed. Read print. Opt-outs save cash.

Vacation posts spark 2026 robberies; AI twists selfies into harms under new laws like CCPA kids’ rules and TAKE IT DOWN. Ditch live locations, health woes, payslips. Quick wins: delete olds monthly, max privacy, vague shares. Feel the lift of a locked profile. No watchers at your door. Small swaps yield big peace. What’s your closest call? Share below, stay sharp.