7 Things You Should Never, Ever Post Online, According to Psychologists
While the internet is a place filled with pleasant things like videos of puppies and cooking tutorials, it's also rife with negativity, and the stats prove it. According to Statista, a March 2024 survey of over 7,000 people found that 22% of participants said that they have had a 'somewhat negative' experience on social media, with 12% saying 'very negative.' And as Pew Research Center reported in 2021, 41% of U.S. adults have experienced some form of online harassment. 25% of those experienced "more severe behaviors online."The internet is also a medium where information flows freely, and lives there for years, typically forever, in many cases. With all that said, what are some ways that you can protect yourself and your mental health online? And still enjoy everything else that the internet has to offer? Psychologists tell Paradeseven things or post online, so you can do just that.Related: Experts Warn Back-to-School Pictures Can Be Unsafe for Kids—What Parents Need To Know
Why Should People Be Careful About What They Post Online?
Psychologist, cautions that posting online can open the door to potential controversy, criticism, harassment and misunderstanding.'I would recommend that you read what you are about to post and ask yourself, 'Why am I sharing this?' before you post,' she says. ''How will I feel about myself if I receive a response to this that is negative or hurtful?''Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby—founder of Growing Self, host of theLove, Happiness and Success Podcast, a licensed psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist and board-certified coach—says that posting online is also about 'relationship management.''It can be so tempting to fire off random posts, comments and even jokes that you find incredibly funny," she explains. "But just like how things don't always land the same way when you text them, it's very easy to be deeply misunderstood by people on the other side of the app. People will make judgments about you, especially when they don't know you very well.' 'People snoop,' she adds, and echoes the thoughts of Dr. Tran: 'It's wise to run every 'Should I post this?' through the filter of whether you'd be happy for a prospective employer or prospective first date to know about it.' In general, protecting yourself online can lead to a stronger and better level of mental health. Related: Here's Exactly How To Remove Your Address and Phone Number from Google Search
7 Things You Should Never Post Online, According to Psychologists
1. Personal information
As Dr. Tran says, don't post personal information online because 'it can make you a target for identity theft, stalking or scams.' This includes things like your passwords, log-in information and financial details.
2. Real-time locations
To protect yourself and your property, as Dr. Bobby says, don't post your location in real time. This includes Facebook, where you can indicate your current location, and Instagram, where you can post a quick story and show exactly where you are.
3. Health information
Although in some cases it's admirable to be authentic and vulnerable as you share personal health hurdles online, it's important to think before you post. Dr. Bobby recommends that, in general, delicate health information should really only be shared with trusted people in your life, not the internet. Before you post, think about why you're posting. Also, if you think that this health information could be used against you in any way, don't post.
4. Sensitive mental health struggles
This also goes for sensitive mental health struggles. Again, it's commendable that you're willing to put yourself out there if you're dealing with things such as depression and anxiety, and people are talking about their mental health more than ever before, which can help remove stigma. But Dr. Bobby points out that this could potentially be used against you in a variety of contexts, 'and you can't get rid of it,' she adds.'Even if you're feeling much better in a couple of years, someone researching you could come to negative conclusions about who you are and what you're capable of,' she says. Once more, it's important to consider the why before posting. If you want to fully live in your truth and be transparent about your mental health struggles, that's your choice to make, and you may not worry about what people online think about them.
5. Inappropriate photos
Dr. Tran says that posting 'inappropriate or embarrassing photos' can't be undone once they're out there, and you never know what the consequence might be. That's why it's also important to really think before you send them to someone confidentially. But you definitely don't want to post it online (even if your account is private, because anyone can save it or screenshot it).
6. Information about others
Forgo posting information and photos of other people and/or your kids.'If you want to post something about someone else, always get their explicit consent,' Dr. Bobby says. 'Otherwise, be aware that you could be sharing things about them that they really, really don't want to have posted. And know that there may be some things that upset them that would surprise you, having to do with their complicated relationships with other people in their social network that you don't know anything about.' Also, as Dr. Tran notes, don't post private conversations in which the other person didn't provide their consent. Related: Thinking About Taking a Social Media Break? Here Are 10 Things That Happen When You Quit Social Media
7. Hateful speech or threats
Dr. Tran says that hateful speech or threats, besides being harmful, can damage your reputation.
How Should People Guard Themselves and Their Mental Health Online?
Now that you know the big 'no-nos' to never post online, how else can you protect your mental health?First of all, Dr. Tran suggests reducing the time you spend on online platforms. She also recommends taking occasional social media 'vacations,' reducing exposure to negative content that causes stress, anxiety or negative comparisons and reminding yourself not to take unhelpful comments personally."Don't associate your personal value with your social media account,' she says.Additionally, Dr. Bobby says that it's key to practice self-awareness while online.'Pay attention to what feels triggering, negative or upsetting to you, and then set boundaries accordingly,' she recommends. The internet does have powers that can be used for good. As Dr. Tran says, you can turn to social media as a tool to help you grow or contribute to a cause that is meaningful to you, instead of a means for validation or social status. 'Taking regular breaks from social media and tracking the amount of time you spend scrolling or watching content can help you see the real impact it is having on you,' she recommends. 'Decide on the amount of time per day you will spend on it and stick with it even if it means that you have to use a timer so that you have time to enjoy and experience life outside of online platforms.' Up Next:Sources:
Dr. Shannon Tran, PhD, psychologist.
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby, a licensed psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist and board-certified coach.
7 Things You Should Never, Ever Post Online, According to Psychologists first appeared on Parade on Jul 21, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
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