Digital ghosts: How AI is exposing your deleted social media history
Experts warn AI tools are increasingly scraping data, making it easier than ever for your digital past to haunt you. But there are ways you can protect yourself. SEE THE VIDEO
Social media users are being urged to use strong privacy settings, delete old accounts and stop oversharing, to avoid creating digital footprints that can’t be erased.
As more and more Aussies try to clean up their profiles after the fact – for everything from job hunting to travelling, and even dating – experts say being deliberate about your online brand is critical.
Chief executive and founder of cyber security firm Cybertrace, Dan Halpin said AI tools can scrape and cross-reference vast amounts of data, making it easier for investigators to dig up information you thought had been permanently deleted.
“The reality is that once something is posted online, it is extremely difficult to completely erase it,” Mr Halpin said.
“Even if you delete a post or profile, copies can remain on servers, web archives, screenshots, or within third-party platforms.”
“You can generally control your online content, but it’s very difficult to be able to fully remove a previous online life.
“Your online content is effectively permanent, and managing it proactively is much better than trying to erase it after the fact.”
PR expert and chief executive of InsideOut Public Relations, Nicole Reaney, said employers often review candidates’ feeds to get a sense of their personality beyond formal interviews.
“It’s an easy way to understand how a person portrays themselves in public, their hobbies and interests and certainly flag anything that may be potentially harming the brand,” she said.
“Employees are by default an extension of the brand. Whether it’s online or offline – it’s always important to be mindful of how your personal brand may be perceived.”
Psychologist Taasha Balakas said institutions increasingly treat social media accounts like dossiers, scanning feeds for risk without context.
“AI has the power to surface old content at lightning speed and out of context” she said.
“What felt lighthearted or harmless at the time, like a joke, party photo, or casual opinion, can resurface years later in a completely different context.”
“I have seen this play out in employment settings, university admissions, and even in personal relationships where trust was questioned because of an old post.”
In June, Melbourne-based writer Alistair Kitchen spoke of being detained for 12 hours at Los Angeles International Airport and denied entry to the US because of his social media posts.
Authorities confiscated his phone and scrutinised his online activity, including unlocking hidden photo folders.
In the same month, the US State Department expanded visa screening to consider applicants’ “online presence,” sometimes requiring social media profiles to be made public.
Louise McKimm, 28, from Melbourne, is proactively managing her digital footprint as she hunts for a new job, locking down her accounts and even contacting Google to request the removal of photos linked to her name.
“I try to scrub up what I can in case employers have a look. I don’t think it’s fair to base it off a really old picture,” Ms McKimm said.
Tips for Reducing Digital Footprints:
- Delete old accounts you no longer use.
- Tighten privacy settings on social media.
- Think before you post and avoid oversharing personal details.
- Use strong unique passwords with multi-factor authentication.
- Google yourself regularly to see what’s public.
Source: Dan Halpin, founder of Cybertrace
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Originally published as Digital ghosts: How AI is exposing your deleted social media history
