The method
- Separate presentation details from private information: precise contacts, documents, travel habits or details about others. Consider what photographs and backgrounds reveal too.
- Review audience settings and the service’s blocking or reporting options. Private messages can be copied; choose content with that possibility in mind.
- State boundaries plainly and control the pace. Pressure to send money, sensitive documents or keep a secret should prompt a pause and checking through an appropriate separate channel.
Fictional worked example
In a fictional exchange, someone requests a document photograph to “prove you are real”. You do not treat the request as an obligation. State that you do not share personal documents and, if needed, use the platform’s options to stop the conversation.
The record to keep
Keep boundaries in a private note. Report problems through the service’s process and provide only information needed for that report.
Your record, step by step
For your own situation, record the following information. Check a field when it is documented; missing information still needs verification. The boxes are a reminder within this page.
This checklist does not validate your project. No entries are sent or saved.
What this method can establish
This preparation guarantees neither identity nor intentions. It offers no intrusive investigation method and does not replace help appropriate to an individual situation.
Supporting documentation
These references support the method. Each source shows its language and consultation date; an available directory record explains its purpose.
- CNIL — maîtriser ses données FR ↗
Documentation consulted on · Resource record : CNIL - CNIL — vie privée sur les réseaux sociaux FR ↗
Documentation consulted on · Resource record : CNIL
An editorial method, a fictional example and references for further reading.