It's that time of year, everyone: FALL SEMESTER! It's an exciting time for new freshmen because you get to decorate your dorm or apartment all cute, it's your first time on your own as an adult, and you're ready to face the world. You get done moving in, you've unpacked entirely and your room is all ready. You look around, proud of your accomplishment, and decide to post a picture to Instagram to show off to all your friends. I did, too. We geotag our location, making sure everyone sees you repping your college, and add a cute caption like "Welcome to 314!"
However, I'm here to encourage you to think before you post. So many girls and guys have public profiles, especially those going off to college because they want their classmates to easily find them. You may not realize it, but you just told the entire world where you're living, in what room, and sometimes even what building. And if you know your roommate, or follow them on Instagram, you might've tagged your roomies. Now everyone knows it's two girls living alone in a room, fresh out of their parents' house. If a person is committed enough, they've just been given bait to find out everything about you. Sadly, we live in a world that is full of people without good intentions.
I'm not saying to not show off that cute room! You worked hard, you just expressed your creativity and you're proud of what you've done. I simply want you to think about exactly what you're posting and who you're posting to. If you'd like to tag your location or add a caption of what your room number is, consider a private Instagram profile and be cautious of those who add you. New accounts, accounts with no photos, or accounts with generic photos that don't really show a person's face can be signs of someone making a fake account to case out new victims.
It can be easy to be too trusting of people, especially when you're surrounded by people at a college who are all around the same age as you, but keep an eye open. Sinister people lurk everywhere, watching for someone to take advantage of. There's no need to be paranoid, just be smart.
Stay safe and have a great year of school, everyone. Just be cautious of those around you!
