Consumers 'overlooking social network dangers'

Monday, 25 October 2010 12:00

Many consumers are overlooking the risks of posting personal information or details of their whereabouts on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, the Co-operative Insurance has warned.

Its research indicates around 70 per cent of adults currently use at least one of these sites and over a third (36 per cent) regularly use them to update their online friends about where they are and what they are doing.

Another 35 per cent post updates on future events, such as when they are going on holiday.

The Co-operative Insurance said while it may seem harmless to post photographs, dates of birth, marital status and whereabouts on a social network, having these details fall into the wrong hands could cause "a variety of problems".

It is even more worrying that 21 per cent of social network users admitted they only know most of their online contacts, while others are "friends of friends".

David Neave of the Co-operative Insurance said people can protect themselves from identity theft or opportunistic burglars by using some "common sense".

"You have to ask yourself 'would I be happy to divulge this information normally?' If not, you shouldn't make people aware of it online," he commented.

According to June figures from Experian Hitwise, Facebook accounted for over half (54.48 per cent) of all visits to social networks by British internet users.

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