Social Media reach continues to grow. There are 3.484 billion active social media users as of January 2019, a 9% increase from 2018. This reach and influence is one of social media’s characteristic features, making it useful for more than connecting with old friends and colleagues, and has long had commercial and business functions.
This overlapping use of social media has been described to have blurred the divide between professional and personal, at least in the online world. Organizations share their expertise through selected employee accounts to have a more approachable image. Individuals stay active on social media as it can be essential to their jobs.
However, despite the convenience this connectivity affords, it does raise security and privacy risks.
Following how social media has changed over the years can help make it easier for organizations to map out what security measures need to be updated. Social media has undergone many changes over time, making platforms easier and more engaging for users.
Here are some of the factors that have influenced social media’s ongoing changes.
With these changes, people’s attitudes towards social media have also changed. Right now, people may have divided opinions on how secure they feel on social media, as seen in a recent poll we conducted on Twitter. However, users still generally trust social media, and they are expected to do so in the future – despite the security and privacy risks social media platforms present.
Here are some of these security threats faced today.
Just as these threats are more potent because of today’s connectivity, a more connected and collaborative approach to security is a good direction to take for a safer enterprise. Here are a few things organizations can do to secure social media and their businesses.
[Read more here: How to Secure Your Social Media Accounts]
Social media has been described as a double-edged sword for both organizations and individuals, as it has both positive and negative effects. Committing to social media security can mitigate some of the platform's threats without closing off the opportunities it brings.
Organizations can also strengthen security by expanding their defenses beyond company borders and influencing their employees, customers, and even third-party business partners to take a more cooperative approach to social media security. After all, an active view of cybersecurity and privacy not only protects an enterprise from threats but also promotes the brand’s reputation and encourages customer trust.
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