Privacy
Privacy is a significant issue among its users. This risk is not immediately apparent. However the information shared on most social media platform extends beyond the immediate group one directly shares that personal content.
The concept of social media—sharing of information, preferences and tastes, historical and private details—is often lost on its users until such time as that privacy is violated by one's network of users.
Users should be careful about what information is posted on these sites. Once the information is distributed, it becomes public information, for all intents and purposes, even when one selects a privacy option. Any shared information can be copied and distributed by those who one shares that information.
It is relatively easy for someone to collect information on a person from a variety of sources, enough to steal one's identity for personal gain, or create distress for one personally or professionally.
Security
Because so much personal data is collected by social media platforms, it becomes easy for another to potentially access ones private records, or get access to financial accounts or legal profiles. Social security numbers, birth dates, telephone numbers, familial relations, addresses, educational or professional histories are all typical ways institutions use to verify one's identity via the internet. All of these details can be relatively easy to collect through social media.
Bullying
Bullying or social intimidation has become problematic via this relatively new social opportunity. In the past, private or potentially embarrassing information was not easily exchanged, but with the internet that can be done easily and quickly across a wide audience.
Harrassment is unfortunately also done with very little effort and to-date there are few laws that can define and prohibit such activity. The result has been devastating in some situations.
Sexting
Sexting, or the sharing of personal images which are nude or sexual in nature, although seemingly harmless at the time, can have long lasting and embarrassing consequences. Once created and shared, one loses control of the distribution of such information. The rule of thumb should be, if it is not something you want everyone in the world to see, then it should not be shared in an electronic format.