Every hashtag you use is a public index of your opinions. Your follows list is a map of your interests. And X’s defaults are set to share all of it. If your account is public and you use a hashtag, anyone searching that hashtag can find your post — that’s not a setting you can change, it’s how the platform works. So the settings below are about controlling everything else.
DO / DON’T
DO:
- Be careful when using #hashtags — they index your posts publicly to anyone searching that topic
- Use caution when posting images or videos — be aware of identifiable locations
- Use a picture of something other than yourself for your profile photo
- Ensure family members take similar precautions
DON’T:
- Provide any identifiable information (name, hobbies, job title) on your profile or in posts
- Link your X account to any third-party applications (Facebook, LinkedIn, fitness apps)
- Allow X to access your location — disable location services when posting images
- Allow people you don’t know in real life to follow you
Your Profile
Path: Profile icon (bottom left) > Edit Profile
- Profile Image and Header Image: Do NOT use photos of yourself — these are public
- Name, Bio, Location, Website, Birthday: Not required — leave blank or use generic info
- Even an inaccurate location can be tied back to you via data aggregator sites
- Changing your birthday by even one day during registration provides additional identity theft protection — the precise date is a common security question answer
Security and Account Access
Path: More (left menu) > Settings and Privacy > Security and Account Access
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (under Security tab)
- Enable Additional password protection
- Review connected apps and login methods — revoke anything you don’t actively use
- Review any shared accounts
Important: Changing your X password does NOT automatically log out the iOS/Android apps. To fully log out those apps: sign in online → Apps in settings → Revoke access → the app will prompt for a new password on next launch.
Privacy and Safety — Your Activity
Path: Settings > Privacy and Safety > Audience and Tagging
- Enable “Protect your posts” — makes your account private; new followers must be approved
- Photo tagging: Turn off or restrict to people you follow only
Path: Settings > Privacy and Safety > Your Posts
- Mark posts as sensitive if needed
- “Add location information to your Posts”: Ensure this is unchecked — always
Content You See
Path: Settings > Privacy and Safety > Content you see
- Helpful for child accounts — restrict what content is visible
- Explore settings: Turn OFF location-based content discovery
- Search settings: Hide sensitive content and blocked and muted accounts from results
Direct Messages
Path: Settings > Privacy and Safety > Direct Messages
- Uncheck the first box to limit incoming messages from people you don’t follow
- Enable “Filter low-quality messages” to hide potential spam
Discoverability and Contacts
Path: Settings > Privacy and Safety > Discoverability and contacts
- Discoverability: Uncheck BOTH boxes — maximum control over who can find you
- Contacts → Remove all contacts if any are listed
- Synchronizing your email account with X allows it to learn about you AND your contacts — avoid this
Data Sharing and Personalization
Path: Settings > Privacy and Safety > Data Sharing and personalization
- Ad Preferences → Personalized ads: Uncheck
- Review the interests X has mapped to you — it’s detailed
- Review Your advertiser lists — see if you’re in any tailored advertising audiences
- Inferred identity: Deny X the ability to track website visits and browser history; turn off personalization
- Data Sharing with Business Partners: Ensure this is unchecked
- Location Information: Clear places you’ve been; turn off in-app location preferences
Mobile — Precise Location
iPhone: Profile icon → Settings and Privacy → Privacy and Safety → Location Information → Precise Location → Disable
Android: Settings and Privacy → Privacy and Safety → Precise Location → Disable
This is the only setting that is ONLY available on mobile. It controls location access for advertisements and photo geo-tagging. Turn it OFF on every device you use X on.
Enable “Protect your posts” and turn off precise location. Those two settings alone significantly reduce your exposure on this platform.