Pre-Holiday Warning: Take Caution When Posting Your Holiday Plans & Photos

This little reminder is posted for you each Holiday Season!

At this time of year, many of us are making plans to go away for the Holidays or are using up vacation time, which means we will not be as available. As a result, we don’t answer emails as quickly (or at all), our social activity changes, and online users on our social accounts notice our absence.

So, we engage our vacation/away messages to inform folks of our status. In addition, we post our upcoming plans with excitement and glee on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

Look At Me!

We announce how long we will be out of town and brag about where we are going.

We’re leaving for the airport for our two week visit with family on the east coast! Excited!

Nefarious individuals see this as “There’s a house/condo/apartment that won’t have anyone home for two weeks!”

Or, sadly, messages and posts reflecting stress and loneliness.

This year I’m staying home alone. Wishing for some company…..

Be careful what you ask for. No matter how careful you are about posting physical location details, some know how to find out. Unfortunately, most folks don’t know how easy it is — or how much information about them is publicly available to track them down.

Less is more…

Think about it… Social sites are, for the most part, accessible to anyone. So it is natural to want to let everyone who knows you or is a “friend” see what you are up to.

However, you may inadvertently let those less than honorable (a.k.a. thieves and thugs) know that your home will be available for them to pay a visit. Or that you’ll be alone.

Here are five solid reasons to keep your holiday plans off social media:

Burglary Risk: Posting “Gone for 2 weeks in Bali!” signals to thieves that your home is empty. Studies show homes are 3x more likely to be burgled when owners advertise vacations online.
Privacy Erosion: Sharing itineraries, hotel names, or flight details hands strangers a blueprint of your movements. This can lead to stalking, doxxing, or targeted scams (e.g., fake “emergency” calls from “your hotel”).
Travel Insurance Complications: Did you know that many policies have clauses voiding coverage if you publicly announce your absence or plans? Insurers argue it shows “reckless behavior” that invites theft.
Scams & Phishing: Cybercriminals scrape posts for details (“Landed in Tokyo—can’t wait for sushi!”) to craft convincing scams—like fake airline refunds or “urgent” messages from “your resort.”
Oversharing Fatigue (for you & others); Real-time updates ruin the magic of being present and annoy followers with FOMO spam. Studies link oversharing vacations to higher anxiety and lower trip satisfaction.

Pro Tip: Share after you’re back, using private stories for trusted friends only.

Are all your “friends” actual friends?

This is a good time of the year to check your social account privacy settings. Ensure you are locked down so that only those whose friend requests you’ve accepted can see your detailed personal updates.

And even then, are all those “friends” indeed the ones you would trust with your physical location or personal information? Maybe consider unfriending those with whom you are not actively engaged. You cannot know for sure whether those you do not know are who they say they are or trustworthy.

Why expose yourself to strangers just for a high friend count? Think quality over quantity.

Don’t believe me?

Search for your name on Google or any of the white-page websites. You will probably be surprised to find how much information about you is publicly available, including the ability to “street view” your home on Google.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

This is why you should take extra care when posting your status to your social networks or including details in your away messages. Do not provide specifics or actual dates.

Talk in general about your Holiday schedule. For example, refrain from providing dates for ” to and from ” that indicate when your home may not be occupied.

Here are examples you can use right now for your voicemail, away messages, and social media updates:

FOR WORK: I’ll be less available during the Holidays. If you need immediate assistance, please contact my assistant, John Doe, at 555-1212.
FOR PERSONAL: I will not be online as much as usual during the upcoming Holidays, so don’t be concerned if I don’t respond immediately. There are too many fun things to do!

You get the idea. Simply state you will not be checking email as regularly during the Holidays and will catch up shortly. Never provide specific dates and time frames.

Don’t Post Photos in Realtime

Also, be wary of posting photos that show you are away from home. That’s as good as posting “empty house available” signs in your yard. Instead, share your photos when you return.

Let those truly personal contacts and real friends know any details via direct email or a phone conversation. And if you see friends posting too many details about their plans, offer them a word of caution, too.

By not including dates and times, you are being prudent. Always err on the side of necessary caution to protect yourself from those with ulterior motives or those you do not know very well. Better safe than sorry, right?