Social Media Lockdown Checklist

Step-by-step instructions to secure all major social platforms.

Social Media Lockdown Checklist

Before You Start

These are optional steps you can use to reduce what others can see or access on your social media and communication accounts.

• Have your device and charger available.
• Set aside time where you are not being interrupted or watched.
• Know or reset your email and phone number logins connected to your accounts.
• Consider writing down key changes (new emails, backup codes) and storing them in a safe place.
• Decide which accounts you want to:
  • Lock down (more private)
  • Change (passwords, email, number)
  • Deactivate or delete

Core Lockdown Steps for Every Account

• Update your password:
  • Use a password not used anywhere else.
  • Avoid passwords another person could guess (names, dates, pets, common words).
• Update recovery options:
  • Check which phone number is listed.
  • Check which email address is listed.
  • Remove any email or number the other person might access.
• Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) where possible:
  • Option: text message code to your phone.
  • Option: authenticator app on a device only you control.
  • Store backup codes in a safe place.
• Review active devices and sessions:
  • Log out of any devices you do not recognize or no longer use.
  • Look for “Security,” “Login Activity,” or “Devices” sections.
• Check connected apps and websites:
  • Remove apps or websites you do not recognize or no longer use.
• Review who can:
  • See your posts
  • Send you messages
  • Find you via phone or email
  • Tag you in photos or posts

Facebook Lockdown Checklist

1. Account Access and Security

• Go to Settings → Security & Login (or similar).
• Change your password to one that is unique and not shared elsewhere.
• Check “Where You’re Logged In”:
  • Sign out of devices and locations you do not recognize.
  • Sign out of devices you no longer use.
• Turn on two-factor authentication:
  • Select how to receive codes (text message or authenticator app).
  • Store backup codes safely if provided.
• Review “Authorized Logins” and “Recognized Devices” and remove any that are not needed.

2. Recovery Information

• Check the email addresses on your account:
  • Remove emails another person may access.
  • Add an email that only you can access.
• Check the phone number on your account:
  • Remove numbers the other person might control.
  • Add a number that only you use (if safe).
• Review identity confirmation options, like “Trusted Contacts,” and update or remove as needed.

3. Privacy and Visibility

• Go to Settings → Privacy:
  • “Who can see your future posts?” – choose the level you prefer (e.g., Friends).
  • “Limit the audience for posts you’ve shared with friends of friends or Public?” – consider limiting.
  • “Who can look you up using the email address or phone number you provided?” – consider setting to “Friends” or similar.
  • Decide whether search engines outside of Facebook can link to your profile.
• Timeline and tagging:
  • Review who can post on your timeline.
  • Review who can see what others post on your timeline.
  • Consider turning on review for posts you are tagged in before they appear.

4. Blocking and Interactions

• Go to Settings → Blocking:
  • Block specific profiles if you want to stop them from viewing your content or contacting you.
  • Use “Restrict” for people you do not want to fully block but want to limit.
• Adjust message delivery:
  • In Messenger settings, decide who can message you directly vs. who goes to Message Requests or is blocked.

5. Location and Activity

• Review “Location Services” or “Location History”:
  • Turn off location history if you do not want your movements logged.
• Check “Off-Facebook Activity” and decide what, if anything, you want to disconnect.

Instagram Lockdown Checklist

1. Account and Login Security

• Open Settings → Security:
  • Change your password to a unique one.
  • Check “Login Activity” and log out of unfamiliar devices or locations.
• Turn on two-factor authentication:
  • Select text message or an authenticator app.
  • Save backup codes if shown.
• Review “Apps and Websites” and remove any that you do not use or recognize.

2. Email, Phone, and Connected Accounts

• Go to Account → Personal information (or similar):
  • Update email to one the other person cannot access.
  • Update phone number if needed.
• Check connected Facebook account:
  • Decide whether to disconnect or keep this link.

3. Privacy and Visibility

• Account privacy:
  • Consider setting your account to “Private,” so only approved followers see your posts.
• Activity status:
  • Consider turning off “Show Activity Status” so others do not see when you are online.
• Story and post controls:
  • Choose who can reply to your stories.
  • Decide whether to allow sharing of your posts to stories or messages.
  • Review who can tag or mention you in posts and stories.

4. Messages and Comments

• Messages:
  • In “Messages” or “Privacy” settings, decide who can:
    • Message you directly
    • Send message requests
• Comments:
  • Use “Comment Controls” to:
    • Limit comments from certain accounts.
    • Block comments containing certain words or phrases.
• Use “Restrict,” “Block,” or “Mute” on specific profiles as needed.

TikTok Lockdown Checklist

1. Account Security

• Go to Profile → Settings and privacy → Manage account:
  • Change your password.
  • Review and update your email and phone number.
• In “Security” (or similar):
  • Turn on two-step verification (2FA) if available.
  • Review your active devices and log out of any unfamiliar ones.

2. Privacy Settings

• Account privacy:
  • Consider setting your account to “Private” so only approved followers can see your content.
• Discoverability:
  • Decide whether others can find you via phone number, email, or suggestions.
  • Turn off “Suggest your account to others” if you want to reduce visibility.
• Interactions:
  • Choose who can:
    • Send you direct messages
    • Comment on your videos
    • Duet or Stitch your content
    • Download your videos (if this option exists)

3. Blocking and Filters

• Block specific accounts from viewing or interacting with you.
• Use comment filters:
  • Filter spam and offensive comments automatically if available.
  • Add specific keywords you want to filter out.

WhatsApp Lockdown Checklist

1. Account and Device Security

• In WhatsApp → Settings → Account:
  • Enable two-step verification:
    • Set a PIN code.
    • Add an email to recover your PIN (that only you can access).
  • Check your phone number is correct and current.
• Linked devices:
  • Open “Linked devices.”
  • Log out of any computers or browsers you do not recognize or no longer use.

2. Privacy Controls

• Go to Settings → Privacy:
  • Set “Last seen & online” to the level you prefer (e.g., Nobody or My Contacts).
  • Choose who can see your:
    • Profile photo
    • About
    • Status
  • Decide whether to share “Read receipts.”
  • Check “Live location” and turn it off if active.

3. Groups and Contacts

• In Privacy → Groups:
  • Decide who can add you to groups (e.g., My Contacts, My Contacts Except…, or similar).
• Block contacts:
  • Add specific numbers to your block list to stop messages, calls, and status updates.

4. Backups and Storage

• Check Chat backup settings:
  • Note where backups are stored (e.g., cloud service connected to your phone number or email).
  • Consider whether you want backups enabled, especially if another person may have access to the linked cloud account.

Snapchat Lockdown Checklist

1. Login and Account Security

• Open Settings (gear icon on your Profile):
  • Change your password.
  • Update your email and phone number to ones only you control.
• Two-factor authentication:
  • Turn on 2FA with SMS or an authenticator app, if available.
  • Save recovery codes in a safe place.
• “Apps Connected” or “Connected Devices”:
  • Remove any suspicious or unnecessary connections.

2. Privacy and Visibility

• Contact settings:
  • Set “Who Can Contact Me” to “My Friends” or similar if you want to limit random contacts.
  • Set “Who Can View My Story” to “Friends,” “Custom,” or “Private Story” as preferred.
• Quick Add:
  • Consider turning off appearance in “Quick Add” to reduce being suggested to others.
• Location:
  • Open “See My Location” (Snap Map settings).
  • Use “Ghost Mode” or limit visibility to selected friends.
  • Check if any live location sharing is active and adjust if needed.

3. Friends and Blocking

• Review your Friends list:
  • Remove people you no longer want connected.
• Block specific users if you want to prevent them from contacting or viewing your content.

Google and YouTube Lockdown Checklist

1. Google Account Security

• Visit your Google Account settings (My Account or similar):
  • Change your Google password to a unique one.
  • Review your recovery email and phone:
    • Remove any that another person can access.
    • Add options that are private to you.
• Security Checkup:
  • Review “Recent security events” for anything unusual.
  • Check “Your devices” and sign out of devices you do not recognize.
  • Turn on 2-Step Verification (text, call, or authenticator app).
• Third-party access:
  • Review apps with access to your Google account.
  • Remove apps and sites you do not use or recognize.

2. Location, Maps, and Activity

• Location:
  • Check “Location History” and decide whether to pause or delete past history.
  • Review “Location Sharing” in Google Maps to see if you are sharing your location with anyone.
• Web and App Activity:
  • Review or clear search history and activity if desired.
  • Decide whether to keep or pause future activity tracking.

3. YouTube Privacy and Interactions

• In YouTube settings:
  • Choose whether your subscriptions, playlists, and liked videos are private or public.
  • Check “Privacy” settings for watch history and search history.
• Comments and Messages:
  • Adjust comment settings on your channel or videos (e.g., hold comments for review, limit comments).
  • Block or report channels that you do not want interacting with you.

General Lockdown Options Across All Platforms

• Consider what you want to do with older content:
  • Delete posts, photos, or videos.
  • Archive or hide them from your profile.
  • Limit past posts to a narrower audience.
• Review your friend, follower, and contact lists:
  • Remove people you no longer want to share information with.
  • Use “Restricted,” “Close Friends,” or similar lists where available.
• Check connected devices:
  • Consider whether any shared devices (tablets, computers, smart TVs) are logged into your accounts.
  • Log out of those devices if you do not want your accounts available there.
• Decide on deactivation or deletion:
  • Many platforms offer temporary deactivation, which hides your profile without deleting data.
  • Full deletion usually takes more time and may be permanent.

After Lockdown: Ongoing Checks

• Set a reminder to recheck account security every few weeks or months.
• Watch for:
  • Unexpected password reset emails
  • Login alerts from unfamiliar locations or devices
  • New connected apps you did not authorize
• Update passwords when:
  • You lose a device
  • You share a device temporarily with someone else
  • You think someone might know your login details

Recommended Articles

• Device Safety Basics
• Location Sharing and Tracking Controls
• Gathering Digital Evidence
• Managing Shared Accounts and Billing
• Password and 2FA Security Checklist