What to do when you have accidentally shared something online
Accidentally sharing something online is very common. This could include forwarding an email to the wrong person, sending a message to the wrong WhatsApp group, uploading a private image publicly, or posting information you did not intend to share.
Depending on what was shared, this can have a significant emotional, personal or financial impact.
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Approaches to dealing with accidental information share
Remove the content - If you still have control of the post or message, delete or remove it as soon as you can. The sooner it is removed, the fewer people are likely to have seen it. Some platforms only allow content to be deleted or recalled within a limited time.
If you are unsure how to remove the content, consult the platform's Help Centre.
Popular help pages include:
Facebook Help Centre, LinkedIn Help, WhatsApp Help, Snapchat Support and Instagram Help Centre.
The information is now public - Even after content has been deleted, other people may have viewed, copied or taken screenshots of it. While this can be upsetting, focusing on what you can control now is usually more helpful than trying to determine who may have seen it.
Seek support from trusted friends, family or appropriate support services if the incident is causing distress.
Avoid repeatedly checking for reactions - Constantly monitoring comments, shares or discussions about the content can increase stress and anxiety. If possible, avoid repeatedly searching for or checking the content once you have taken reasonable steps to remove it.
How best to avoid accidentally sharing information
Double check - Before sending a message or posting online:
Check who will receive it.
Confirm you are posting to the intended account, group or audience.
Review any attachments before sending.
Taking a few extra seconds can prevent many accidental disclosures.
Think hard before you share personal information - Anything shared online can potentially become public, even if it is later deleted. Consider whether you are comfortable with the information being copied, forwarded or captured in a screenshot before posting or sending it.
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