040 - You Control Who Has Access To You
“You are allowed to block, mute, unfollow, or walk away from people who make you uncomfortable online. Protecting your peace and safety is more important than being polite.”
Private Accounts Are Safer Accounts
Imagine walking down a busy street, carrying a giant poster board that displays your full name, your birthday, a list of your closest friends, and photos of everywhere you’ve hung out this week. It sounds completely ridiculous, right? You’d probably feel exposed and incredibly uncomfortable.
Yet, millions of people do the exact digital equivalent of this every single day. When you leave your social media profiles completely public, you are essentially hanging that poster board up for the entire internet to see. When it comes to your digital life, keeping your accounts private is the ultimate power move.
The Mystery of the Open Profile
When you’re just posting a funny video or a casual story, it feels like you're only sharing it with your squad. But if your account is public, anyone can wander in. This includes random bots, corporate data miners, online trolls, and—worst of all—scammers or catfishers looking for an easy target.
Public information is fuel for people with bad intentions. They can use your photos to create fake copycat accounts, track your daily routines, or figure out the answers to your account security questions. A private profile acts like a digital front door with a heavy-duty lock—it ensures you get to decide exactly who gets to see your life.
Your 2-Minute Lockdown Strategy
You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to take control of your privacy. Spend two minutes on your phone today and run through this quick checklist:
Flip the Privacy Switch: Open up settings on TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, or whatever app you use most. Find the account privacy tab and toggle it to Private.
Do a Follower Audit: Take a look at who is already following you. If you see random accounts you don’t know, or people who make you feel uncomfortable, hit the remove button. You don't owe anyone a look into your life.
Filter Your DMs: Change your message settings so that only people you actually follow back can slide into your direct messages.
It takes almost no time at all, but locking down your profiles cuts out the background noise and keeps your digital space safe, fun, and completely yours.
What Now
If you feel like you have lost control of your digital privacy, or if an online stranger or cyberbully is using your public information to make you feel unsafe, you can take your power back immediately. Grounded in digital safety frameworks from leading youth advocacy non-profits like ConnectSafely and the National Cybersecurity Alliance, follow this five-step lockdown plan:
Go Private Instantly: Do not let strangers wander through your life. Open the settings menu on TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, or Discord, find the account privacy tab, and toggle your profile to Private or Friends Only.
Execute a Follower Audit: Go through your current followers list and aggressively remove any accounts you don't actually know in real life, as well as anyone who makes you feel uncomfortable. You do not owe anyone a window into your personal daily routine.
Filter Your Direct Messages: Change your app safety settings so that only people you actively follow back are allowed to send you direct messages (DMs) or add you to group chats. This instantly cuts out background spam, bots, and unwanted attention.
Document and Report Bad Behavior: If someone is using your photos to create a fake copycat account or is harassing you, take clear screenshots of their profile page and messages for evidence. Then, use the app's built-in tools to report the account for harassment or impersonation and block them permanently.
Loop in a Trusted Adult: Digital troublemakers thrive when they can make you feel isolated or embarrassed. Break their power by talking to a parent, caregiver, favorite teacher, or school counselor who can support you and help ensure your digital space stays safe and fun.
Local Resources
The Children's Center https://www.thechildrenscenter.org/
(360) 699-2244
Teen Talk (Clark County Community Services) https://ccteentalk.clark.wa.gov/
(360) 397-2428
Lutheran Community Services Northwest https://lcsnw.org/office/vancouver/
(360) 694-5624
