If you are planning a vacation anytime soon, consider delaying the announcement of your trip online—you could save yourself a lot of trouble this way, according to Allstate Insurance Canada.
On Monday, the insurer issued a release sharing the findings of its latest survey. The study revealed that nearly a quarter of Quebecers (23%) admitted that they have posted their vacation whereabouts on social media for everyone to see while they were away from home. This, Allstate reasoned, is what puts individuals at high risk since their whereabouts and their absence from their homes are being made known.
The survey also found that more than half (52%) of the 18 to 24 age group answered that they shared their travel details on popular social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For the 25 to 34 age group, a good portion (43%) also admitted to sharing their vacation online.
“Although it can be so much fun to share our travel experiences with others, oversharing is a trend that can potentially put the safety of your home at risk,” warned Allstate Agency Manager Patrizia D'Ignazio. “Allstate Insurance would like to remind Quebecers to think twice before announcing their travel plans online in advance, or during their trip.”
Other things the survey discovered include:
- Thirty-three percent (33%) of the survey’s participants answered that they plan to take a day or two off during the construction holiday period (July 24-August 6) for a vacation.
- More than half of the survey’s male participants (60%) and just over half of female participants (51%) admitted that they do not always deactivate the geolocation feature on their mobile devices.
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Allstate offered several tips for consumers to keep in mind before going on a trip:
- Try not to publish your vacation departure dates on social media
- Even if your social media profile is set to “private,” consider the possibility that some of your contacts may have less rigid security settings, allowing even those who are not your friends to view your vacation details
- Check you social media’s privacy and security settings
- Before posting a picture, consider first if you are giving away too much information
- Avoid posting geotagged photos
- Set an example to your children and other relatives and remind them to be careful about what they post online
- Consider saving your photos during the trip and uploading them once you have returned
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