In partnership with

Facebook has become a daily habit for millions. It’s like a digital coffee shop where we chat, catch up, and share bits of our lives with friends and family. But while it might feel like a cozy place to connect with friends, the truth is far more complicated. Every post you share is a piece of your life exposed to people and algorithms are watching.

In this guide, we’ll walk through 15 things you should never post on Facebook, and why doing so could cost you more than just a few likes. Along the way, we’ll also share broader social media safety tips to help you stay smart and secure online.

1. Your Full Birthdate

It’s a celebration, sure, but posting your full birthdate (day, month, and year) hands scammers a key part of your identity. Combined with your name and location (both often visible on your profile), that’s enough to open credit cards or steal your identity.

What to do instead: Just share your birth day and month if you want the birthday wishes — skip the year.

2. Your Vacation Plans (Before or During)

That “Countdown to Cancun” post might be exciting, but it’s also a blinking sign that says “My house is empty!” Thieves do monitor social media.

Pro tip: Post the vacation pics after you return, and keep location tagging turned off until then.

3. Your Address or Phone Number

You’d be shocked how many people post their contact info in buy-and-sell groups or profile bios. Scammers, spammers, and stalkers all love easy access.

Instead: Use Facebook’s Messenger to communicate privately, and never post your contact info in public groups.

4. Photos of Your Home’s Layout or Valuables

Those kitchen renovation photos? Harmless fun. Until someone zooms in and sees your brand-new MacBook on the counter or figures out your alarm system brand.

What to remember: Always check the background of your photos. A criminal sees opportunity where you see “just a selfie.”

5. Your Child’s School or Activities Schedule

It’s tempting to show off your kids’ accomplishments, but be cautious about identifying the school name, team uniforms, or regular schedules.

Why it matters: This kind of info can make your child a target for impersonation or even abduction.

Continued below but first, why not check out todays sponsor, the 1440. They bring together all of the days most interesting news into one daily newsletter. I receive it every day and its fab!

Receive Honest News Today

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Sign up today!

6. Financial Wins (or Woes)

That “Just paid off my mortgage!” post might feel like a win, but it can draw scammers who see you as financially stable — or worse, as a target for phishing or “investment” scams.

On the flip side, complaining about money problems can also attract predatory lenders or fake job offers.

7. Your Workplace Drama

It feels good to vent. But a single screenshot from a friend-of-a-friend could land you in HR or the unemployment line.

Rule of thumb: If you wouldn’t say it in the breakroom in front of your boss, don’t post it online.

8. Photos of Other People Without Permission

Especially if you’re tagging them. Not everyone wants their image or location broadcast and legally, this can get murky if someone asks for it to be taken down.

Ask first, and be respectful if someone wants a tag removed or a photo deleted.

9. Your Daily Routine

“I go to the gym every day at 6 AM” might sound like motivation, but to someone with bad intentions, it’s a pattern they can exploit.

Avoid posting about regular habits in real-time especially if they involve you being away from home.

10. Your COVID-19 Vaccination Card or Medical Info

That card includes your full name, birthdate, and even ID numbers in some cases a scammer’s dream.

Same goes for posting sensitive health updates. Once it’s online, it’s out of your control.

11. Memes That Ask for “Fun” Personal Details

You’ve seen them: “Your elf name is your middle name + the street you grew up on!”
Guess what? Those are the same questions banks and email accounts use for password recovery.

Avoid any posts or games asking for personal trivia they’re often built for data mining.

12. Your License Plate or Car Details

Photos with your license plate visible can be reverse searched or cloned for criminal use. And if you post about a new car? That’s just another way to say “I’ve got money!”

Tip: Blur license plates and keep dealership info private.

13. Political Rants (Unless You Want a Fight)

You’re entitled to your views but remember that Facebook arguments rarely change minds and often change relationships.

Better idea: Use private groups or in-person chats for political debate. Public posts = public fallout.

14. Screenshots of Private Messages or Emails

It might feel like justice to “expose” someone, but posting private convos is a fast way to lose trust — and possibly land in legal hot water if it includes threats, business info, or copyrighted content.

15. Photos That Include Location Metadata

Most phones embed where a photo was taken into the file. If you upload it raw, someone can extract that GPS data — especially from older posts or albums.

Best practice: Turn off location services for your camera app and avoid uploading full-resolution photos to public albums.

📌 Bonus: Smart Social Media Habits Everyone Should Know

Beyond what not to post, here are a few habits that can make your social media use safer, smarter, and more enjoyable:

✅ 1. Do a Privacy Settings Checkup (Quarterly!)

Facebook updates their settings more than you'd think. Take 10 minutes every few months to:

• Check who can see your posts

• Review tagged photos

• Limit past post visibility

Just search "Privacy Checkup" on Facebook and follow the guided tool.

✅ 2. Friend List = Quality Over Quantity

Don’t accept every friend request. That “mutual friend” might just be bait. If you don’t know them offline, think twice.

✅ 3. Turn on Two-Factor Authentication

It’s free and fast — and makes it nearly impossible for someone to break into your account, even with your password.

✅ 4. Beware of Phishing Links in Messenger

If a friend sends you a weird message like “Is this you in the video?” — don’t click. Their account was likely hacked.

✅ 5. Don’t Use Facebook to Log Into Everything

Many sites let you “Sign in with Facebook.” It’s convenient, but it also means if your Facebook account gets compromised, so does everything else.

Use email logins and a password manager instead.

✅ 6. Clean Up Your Digital Footprint

Old photos, rants, and posts from years ago can still haunt you — especially if you're job hunting or dating. Use Facebook’s activity log to bulk delete posts or hide them from your timeline.

👋 Final Thought:

Facebook can still be a great place to connect, share, and stay in the loop — but it's also a window into your life. And if you’re not careful, that window is wide open to strangers, scammers, and companies tracking your every move.

By following these tips and avoiding the overshares above, you’re not just protecting your privacy — you’re taking control of your online life.

Like this newsletter?
As you are aware, I put these newsletters together free of charge to keep you guys informed of how to stay safe and happy online. All I ask in return is that you forward it to a friend.

Want more tips like this every day? Make sure you’re subscribed to Tech Guidepost — the smart, friendly guide for staying ahead in a digital world.

Your Tech Guide

Oliver