Hometown 101

Kids today are growing up in a world in which updating your friends on your every move is totally acceptable, if not expected. Posting to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat about where you are, what you’re doing, and who you’re doing it with is par for the course. And while that might be a fun way to stay connected and share your memories with others, it also can be risky.

One of the best things you can do to keep your home safe while you’re on your next vacation: Stop posting anything about your trip beforehand or while you are still on it. Believe it or not, your online presence is a huge factor in keeping your home safe and secure. Without even realizing what you’re doing, you may be divulging information online that is practically an invitation to burglars.

Most adults probably know better than to broadcast on Facebook when they’re going to be out of town, where they are going and for how long. Kids, however, might not realize the consequences of doing so. Sharing a post that says, “Heading out on a road trip with the family for two weeks!” may just seem like a good way to let their friends know how excited they are for vacation. But the truth of the matter is, they just told the world that their house is going to be empty for a considerable amount of time.

Vacationing with friends or family? Avoid tagging them in pictures or status updates because that lets everyone know their home is unoccupied as well. Wait until everyone has returned home and then tag them later — if they want to be tagged.

Make sure you take the time to explain to your children what kind of posts could leave your home vulnerable to intruders. Broadcasting that someone is home alone, saying that your family is headed to or already on vacation, or sharing any kind of personal or financial information is risky.