Chennai, Sept 30:
The theft of 118 sovereigns of gold jewellery from the house of a woman YouTuber in Kanniyakumari has raised concerns over the amount of personal information people, particularly social media influencers, reveal online.
Police have arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with the robbery. During interrogation, he allegedly told police that he had been watching the YouTuberâs Instagram reels and was attracted by posts displaying jewellery, cash and a lavish lifestyle. Police are investigating whether the social media content helped the accused identify and target the house.
Cybersecurity experts warn that repeated posts can unintentionally create a detailed picture of a person’s lifestyle, home and routine. âSmall pieces of information shared online can be combined to create a profile of an individual,â cybersecurity experts have cautioned.
For influencers, displaying their lifestyle is often part of their profession, but experts advise them to exercise caution. Photos or videos showing expensive jewellery, large amounts of cash, the interiors of homes, security arrangements, vehicle numbers or children’s routines should be avoided or carefully edited.
Real-time location updates and posts announcing holidays should also be avoided, as they can indicate that a house is vacant. Experts suggest posting travel photographs after returning rather than during the trip.
The basic rule is simple: show the experience, but don’t reveal the information that can compromise your safety. In the race for likes and views, social media users should remember that not every follower is a friend.