064 - Protect Your Devices With Passcodes
“A strong phone or computer passcode helps protect private conversations, photos, and identity-related information from unauthorized access.”
Our smartphones and tablets go everywhere with us, acting as digital diaries that hold our most personal conversations, photos, medical info, and dating profiles. For many in the 2SLGBTQI+ community, keeping this information private isn't just about data security—it’s a matter of personal safety, autonomy, and choosing how and when you share your true self with the world.
Think about how easily a device can be accessed. A nosey roommate, an overly curious family member, or even a stranger who picks up a phone left behind on a coffee shop table can instantly see notifications, private messages, or community apps. Leaving a device completely unlocked means anyone who holds it has a front-row seat to your private life.
Securing this boundary doesn't require complex technical know-how. Setting up a strong, physical barrier between your information and the outside world takes less than two minutes.
Here is how you can easily claim your digital privacy today:
Upgrade to a 6-Digit PIN: If your phone currently uses a simple 4-digit code, switch it to a 6-digit number in your security settings. Those extra two numbers make the code significantly harder for someone to guess by watching over your shoulder.
Avoid Obvious Combinations: Stay away from sequential numbers (like 1-2-3-4-5-6) or your birth year. Pick a random memorable number or a date that only has meaning to you.
Turn Off Lock Screen Previews: Go to your notification settings and choose "Hide Notification Content" when the screen is locked. This ensures that text messages or app alerts don't pop up on your screen for anyone to read while your phone is sitting face-up on a table.
Your story belongs entirely to you. Taking a brief moment to lock down your devices ensures that your private life stays exactly where it belongs—completely under your control.
What Now
If you are a member of the 2SLGBTQI+ community and worry that an unlocked device or weak credentials could compromise your safety, privacy, or autonomy, take these immediate actions to secure your physical and digital boundaries:
Implement a Lock Screen Protocol: Immediately transition your device from a standard 4-digit PIN to a complex 6-digit passcode or a custom alphanumeric password. Additionally, update your device settings to hide notification content and message previews on the lock screen so prying eyes cannot read incoming alerts when your phone is left face-up on a surface.
Enable Non-SMS Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Add an extra layer of lock security to your critical accounts (including dating apps, email, and social media platforms). Utilize time-based one-time password (TOTP) authenticator apps, such as Google Authenticator or Authy, rather than text message (SMS) verification to protect against SIM-swapping or notifications being intercepted on a shared device.
Audit and Hide Sensitive Applications: Review the applications on your home screen. If you are navigating an unsupportive environment or shared household, use your device’s native settings to hide or obscure sensitive community, dating, or healthcare apps into secured, password-protected folders or off the main interface.
Utilize Privacy-Centric Resources from GLAAD: Consult the digital security playbooks provided by the GLAAD Social Media Safety Program. Their resources walk users step-by-step through locking down platform-specific visibility, protecting personal photos from abuse, and recovering compromised accounts.
Connect with Secure Peer Support Networks: If your privacy has been breached or if device-related exposure has compromised your emotional or physical safety, reach out to vetted community lines. Young people can access secure, moderated spaces and 24/7 crisis counseling through The Trevor Project, while individuals of all ages can check the nonprofit hub InReach to find verified local shelter, legal, and mental health aid.
Local Resources
Queer Youth Resource Center (QYRC) https://www.qyrcvancouverwa.org/
(360) 831-0745
Akin (Triple Point Youth Program) https://www.akinfamily.org/
(360) 695-1325
NAMI Southwest Washington https://namiswwa.org/
(360) 695-2823
