Privacy Settings — Hands-on
Who can see your posts right now?
- Locate privacy settings on a common platform
- Change audience defaults from public to friends
- Review connected apps and revoke unused access
Overview
Every social platform ships with defaults that favour maximum sharing — that is how they grow. Taking 15 minutes to review your privacy settings gives you control back. The skills transfer between platforms: look for 'Privacy', 'Audience', 'Connected apps', and 'Advertising preferences'.
Audience Defaults
Change post visibility from Public to Friends. Limit who can find you by phone number or email.
Connected Apps
Every game or quiz you 'signed in with Google' still has access. Revoke anything you no longer use.
Location and Advertising
Turn off location tagging on photos and ad personalisation to reduce tracking.
Privacy Walk-through
- Choose one platform you use (Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat).
- Screenshot the privacy dashboard.
- Change at least three settings towards more privacy and note them.
- What is the default audience on most platforms after signup?
Reveal answer
Public or nearly public.
- Why review connected apps?
Reveal answer
They may still have access to your data long after you stopped using them.
- Name one setting that reduces ad tracking.
Reveal answer
Turning off ad personalisation or limiting cookie use.
Repeat the audit on a second platform at home. Record the three biggest changes.