Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter enable global connections through text, photos, and videos. Smart devices, such as home security systems with streaming video or Philips Hue lights, offer remote control from anywhere.
IFTTT ('If This Then That') simplifies automation for social networking and smart home devices. Yet combining them can invite serious privacy risks.
Here are key ways not to automate your social media accounts.
IFTTT is a free service connecting apps and devices via simple 'if this, then that' recipes. Available on web and mobile apps, it integrates with products like Philips Hue, Nest, and Amazon Alexa—many we've covered extensively on MakeUseOf.
Its appeal lies in ease: just craft an if/then statement on the IFTTT site or app.
Smart home devices like Nest use your phone's GPS to detect when you're away, adjusting settings automatically.
These features are powerful, but keep them private. IFTTT recipes that notify Facebook friends when you leave home or tweet motion detection from your camera overshare your routine. Most contacts don't need this play-by-play, and criminals scour social media for burglary opportunities.
Safer IFTTT alternatives:
Devices like Automatic (starting at $99) unlock your car's computer data, track trips, and monitor fuel economy.
IFTTT can auto-post Facebook statuses or tweets on arrivals. Does your network need live location updates—especially signaling you're away? Avoid it; it broadcasts vulnerability and could implicate you falsely.
Never automate location reveals. Data breaches are common—don't aid hackers or stalkers.
Sharing photos is fine with discretion—skip nudes, substances, or embarrassing friend pics.
Steer clear of IFTTT recipes auto-posting from Instagram to Twitter or Flickr; smartphone geotags expose locations unwittingly.
Better options:
Amazon Alexa manages shopping lists seamlessly. IFTTT can broadcast additions to social feeds—harmless for shampoo, risky for pricey gadgets or gifts.
Recommended private recipes:
Countdowns suit New Year's, not vacations—they scream 'home empty.'
Smart devices and social media shine alone, but IFTTT combos demand caution to safeguard privacy. Have you faced automation mishaps? Share experiences and tips in the comments.
