Twitter allows you to engage with anyone in the world, but it has also become a dangerous place filled with harassment and abuse. This can include anything from threats and spam to account hacks and worse. Here are some of the features that can help you feel safer while participating in the conversation on the microblogging service.
Two-factor authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication refers to adding an extra layer of security to your account. When you enable this feature, you will be asked to provide an additional security code or key, along with your password, when you sign in to ensure that only you can access your account.
Steps to enable two-factor authentication:
#In the side menu on your profile, click More, then click Settings and privacy.
#Click on Security and account access, then click Security.
#Click “Two-Factor Authentication” and choose from three authentication methods: text message, authentication app, or security key.
Enable password reset protection
If you enable password reset protection, Twitter will ask you to confirm your email address or phone number if you ever decide to reset your password. Use a strong password that you won’t use on other websites. These features are useful in case your account is hacked, the hacker will not be able to block you from your account. Here’s how you can enable password reset protection.
#Go to Settings and privacy
#Select Security and account access and enable it
Beware of suspicious messages
Twitter will never ask you to sign in to a non-Twitter website, provide your password via email, direct message, reply, or download anything. Never open an attachment or install any software from an email claiming to be from Twitter; Its not. Most importantly, do not give your username and password to third parties and always make sure you are on the official website before entering your login information.
Protected Tweets
In an effort to reduce the burden on people dealing with unwanted interactions, Twitter has rolled out Protected Tweets. You can choose to protect your tweets so that only your followers can view and engage with them.
To protect your tweets:
#In the side menu on your profile, click More, then click Settings and privacy
#Click Privacy and Security, then click Audience and Tagging
#Check the box next to Protect your Tweets
#At any time, you can undelete your Tweets by following the same steps
Location sharing
Twitter allows you to include your location in individual tweets and on your profile. As a security practice, you should avoid sharing information that could identify your home or office address or where your children go to school. To change location settings:
#Go to Settings and privacy from your profile menu, then click Privacy and security
#Under Data sharing and off-Twitter activity, go to Location Information
#Click on Add location information to your tweets
#If the box is checked, it means that your location information attached to your Tweets is enabled. To disable Tweet location, check the box.
Disable photo tagging
To minimize sharing your name with the public, you can turn off a feature that allows anyone to tag you in a photo or limit tagging to only those you follow. This can be found at:
#Go to Settings and privacy
#Click on Privacy and security
#Now, go to Audience and tagging and disable photo tagging.
Unfollow
If you are no longer interested in tweets from a particular account, or feel disturbed by them, you can simply unsubscribe them. To unfollow an account:
#Open their profile.
#On the top right, you will see the ‘Follow’ button. When you hover over it, it will ask you to “Unfollow”. Click on the button.
Remove followers
If you don’t want a certain account to follow you, you can simply remove them from your follower list without blocking them. To remove a follower
#Go to follower list
#Click on the three dots icon next to the “Next” button against the account you want to remove
#From the menu, click on ‘Remove this follower’ and confirm by clicking ‘Remove’ again.
Stop unnecessary DMs
Direct Message (DM) settings allow you to filter spam and limit messages from people you don’t follow.
If the setting is disabled, you will only receive messages from people you follow. You can also toggle the quality filter to exclude low-quality or potentially spammy DMs.
Hide the answers
Hide Replies features let you control who has visibility into your conversations. If you believe a reply is spam and detracting from the conversation, you can click on the reply and hide it. It should be noted that the answers are not deleted, but set after an additional click. While everyone can see the Tweet and the conversation, depending on your settings, not everyone will be able to reply.
Shut up
Twitter allows you to limit Tweets from certain accounts without removing or blocking them by muting those accounts. You can still follow these accounts, but you won’t see their Tweets on your timeline. You also use Advanced Mute to mute specific words, conversations, phrases, usernames, emojis, or hashtags. Here’s how you can deactivate an account:
#Open their profile and click on the three dots icon on the top right.
#From the menu, click ‘Mute @username’. Confirm by clicking “Mute” again.
Block
You can also choose to restrict certain accounts by blocking them. Accounts you have blocked will not be able to contact you, see your Tweets, and/or follow you. To block an account:
# Open their profile and click on the icon with three dots on the top right.
# From the menu, click ‘Block @username’. Confirm by clicking “Block” again.
report
If an account is bothering you with spam or spam, you can choose to report it. Reported profiles will be monitored by the Twitter team periodically. Here’s how to report an account:
# Open their profile (the account you want to report) and click on the three dots icon in the top right.
# From the menu, click ‘Report @username’.
#The page will then lead you to identify a problem under seven different topics, select the one that most accurately describes your concern, and confirm.
