If you set up your social media privacy settings a year ago and haven’t looked at them since, you may be far more exposed than you realize. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram update their settings frequently — and sometimes those updates quietly reset your preferences or introduce new options that default to sharing more than you’d want.
A monthly privacy checkup is one of the easiest habits you can build to stay safe online. It takes less time than a cup of coffee, and it can prevent real harm — from scammers finding your personal information to strangers seeing content you intended only for close family.
What Is a Social Media Privacy Checkup?
A social media privacy checkup is a short, structured review of your account settings to make sure everything is configured the way you want it. It’s similar to checking the locks on your doors before bed — not because anything is necessarily wrong, but because a quick check gives you peace of mind and prevents surprises.
The goal is to answer three key questions each month:
- Who can see my posts and profile information? Make sure your audience settings still reflect your preferences.
- What apps have access to my account? Old or unused apps may still have permission to read your data.
- Has anything changed since last month? Platforms often roll out new features that come with new privacy choices you haven’t made yet.
Why Monthly Is the Right Frequency
Annual reviews are not enough. Facebook alone made over a dozen significant changes to its privacy dashboard between 2022 and 2024. Instagram introduced new sharing features multiple times in a single year. Without regular checkups, you can easily miss settings that expose more of your information than you intended.
Why Regular Privacy Reviews Really Matter
The risk is not just theoretical. The AARP Fraud Watch Network consistently reports that personal information gathered from social media profiles is a primary tool used by scammers who target people over 50. Details like your birthday, your grandchildren’s names, your city, or the fact that you’re traveling are enough to craft a convincing and dangerous scam message.
Beyond scams, platforms regularly add new features that come with loose defaults. A checkup ensures you stay in control rather than having your choices made for you by a platform’s business interests.
Your Monthly Privacy Checkup Routine
Here is a simple step-by-step routine you can follow every month. It covers the platforms most seniors use regularly:
Facebook (5 minutes)
Facebook offers a built-in Privacy Checkup tool at facebook.com/privacy/checkup. Use it every month. It walks you through:
- Who can see what you share
- How to keep your account secure
- How to control how people find you
- Your data settings for ads and apps
After running the checkup, also go to Settings → Apps and Websites and remove any apps you no longer use or recognize. Each connected app is a potential data access point.
Instagram (3 minutes)
On Instagram, go to your profile, tap the three-line menu, then Settings → Account Privacy. Confirm your account is set to Private if you prefer a controlled audience. Also check Settings → Security → Apps and Websites to revoke access from apps you no longer use.
A Practical Monthly Checklist
- Audience settings: Confirm posts default to Friends (not Public or Friends of Friends).
- Profile visibility: Check that your phone number, email, and home city are not publicly visible.
- Connected apps: Remove apps you don’t actively use — they often retain access indefinitely.
- Tagged photos: Review any photos you’ve been tagged in since your last checkup.
- Login activity: Look at recent login locations to catch any unauthorized access.
- Password: If you haven’t changed your password recently, consider doing so now.
Pros and Cons of a Regular Privacy Routine
Stays ahead of platform changes
Social media companies update settings frequently. Monthly reviews ensure you’re never caught off-guard by new defaults.
Catches unauthorized access early
Reviewing login history monthly means you’ll notice if someone else logs into your account before they can cause serious harm.
Builds lasting confidence online
Knowing your settings are current and correct lets you use social media more freely and enjoyably.
Can feel overwhelming at first
Privacy settings menus can be confusing. Give yourself time on the first checkup — it becomes faster each month.
Settings may change again after your review
A platform update can reset certain preferences. This is exactly why monthly reviews are worthwhile — not a reason to skip them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a monthly privacy checkup actually take?
For most people, 10 to 15 minutes covers Facebook and Instagram thoroughly. After the first time, it often takes less than 10 minutes because you already know where everything is.
What if I find an app connected to my account that I don’t recognize?
Remove it immediately. Go to your Connected Apps or Apps and Websites settings and revoke access. If you’re not sure what an app is, removing it is always the safer choice.
Does doing a checkup mean I have to change all my settings?
No. The goal is simply to review and confirm. If everything looks correct, no changes are needed. The checkup is about awareness, not making changes for the sake of it.
Should I do this for every platform, or just Facebook?
Ideally, review every platform you actively use. Facebook and Instagram are the highest priority for most seniors, but LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest also have meaningful privacy settings worth checking.
Final Thoughts
A monthly social media privacy checkup is one of the most underrated digital safety habits you can build. It does not require technical expertise — just a few minutes of attention once a month. Think of it as routine maintenance, like changing the batteries in a smoke detector. You hope you never need it, but you’ll be very glad you did it if something goes wrong.
Start this month: open Facebook’s Privacy Checkup, work through each section, and note what you find. You might be surprised — and you’ll be safer for it.