Small posts, big picture: oversharing online
Big idea: small harmless posts can add up to a big picture.
The story in short
Riya posted every day on Pixtory, a public account with over 800 followers, most of them strangers. One night a faceless account commented: “You have dance class on Tuesdays right? See you soon!” Scrolling back with Bunny, she saw it: her school name on her uniform, the same dance studio every Tuesday, her building tagged, her full name and class. No single post was dangerous. Together they told a stranger everything. They made her account private, removed and reported strangers, and deleted old revealing posts.
The idea
- Privacy settings: controls that decide who can see what you post. Many accounts start as public.
- Oversharing: giving away more detail than you realise, a little at a time.
- Jigsaw effect: small harmless facts combining into one complete, identifying picture.
- Digital footprint: the lasting trail of everything you’ve posted.
- Real-time location: posting where you are right now tells people where to find you. Post about trips after you’re home.
In real life
People who target children online often collect details slowly from public posts. Photos of you can also be copied and misused, including with AI tools that create fake or morphed images. Keep accounts private and tell a trusted adult if someone makes you uncomfortable.
Remember: Before you post, ask: would I be okay with a stranger seeing this and knowing it’s about me?
Check yourself
Which post is safest to share publicly?
What is the "jigsaw effect"?
Why is it safer to post about a trip after you return?
Does deleting a post remove it everywhere?
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