Today, social media is everywhere. The number of people on various social media sites, like Facebook, Twitter, and much more, has grown exponentially over the last decade and it continues to go up. Not only are these platforms growing, but those on them post updates about everything. If you’re thinking about posting about your upcoming move, there are a few benefits, but also some risks to be aware of.

Benefits

One of the best benefits of social media is the ability to solicit free advice and input. If you’re moving to a new city, or even just considering it, you can make an update and ask your friends what they think. They could volunteer services to look into, or give an idea of neighborhoods or job opportunities (assuming you don’t have one before moving). Even if you’re looking for work, use a professional network like Linkedin prior to your move to start connecting with potential employers in your new city.

Once you move to a new city, you can also reach out to any friends you might have in the area to find things to do. If you don’t know anyone in the city, use sites like MeetUp and find like-minded groups of people with similar interests. This can help you meet new people and get to know your city quicker since they often meet in public hot spots.

Risks

The single biggest risk of the constant updating about your move on social media is the same with talking about anything on social media: privacy. We all know sites like Facebook offer its users plenty of privacy abilities, but very rarely do most delve into them. If your privacy settings are lax, then it’s possible that anyone can see your updates. And not all of those “anyones” are people who you want to know your updates.

For example, if you say, “Heading out to pick up more boxes for my move,” you’re letting everyone know you’ve left the house. Would-be thieves know you’re gone and could use this as a burglary opportunity. It’s the same thing for your actual moving day. When the big day occurs, there’s lots of running around, people going in and out, and your belongings are in the open. Those who are following your moving updates can plan to wander down your street and try to grab something right off your yard. (This is also why it’s important to have a reputable moving company, like 1st Class Moving and Storage, on hand. The crew will mind your belongings so this doesn’t happen.)

To prevent this, first, update your privacy settings so only select people can see your updates. Also, just because you can share everything doesn’t mean you should. Keep only your family and close friends informed (especially if they can help).

Whether you use social media as a tool to seek out advice on neighborhoods or recommendations of things to do in your new city, always remember you seek out 1st Class Moving and Storage to get you from one place to another (and we’re on Facebook).