The topic of Narine’s post may be of particular significance to the insurance industry, as I just came across an article that was recently published in the U.K.’s Telegraph, where Darren Black, head of home insurance at Confused.com (an online insurance comparison service), states:

I wouldn’t be surprised if, as social media grow in popularity and more location-based applications come to fore, insurance providers consider these in their pricing of an individual’s risk. We could see rises of up to 10pc for people who use these sites.Criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their information gathering, even using Google Earth and Streetview to plan their burglaries with military precision. Insurance providers are starting to take this into account when they are assessing claims and we may in future see insurers declining claims if they believe the customer was negligent.

Personally, I think it is unlikely that the use of social media will, in and of itself, automatically lead to a rise in your premiums. That said, it may still be a factor that underwiters will take it into consideration when pricing home insurance. To this end, Confused.com has provided some simple tips on how to possibly provide information and tips to consumers on how to make their privacy issues more secure and address any shortcomings from their personal situations:

1. Be careful of divulging too much information online. Self-publication may be the theme of this decade, but use common sense. Similarly, Confused.com points out that it’s crucial to keep a keen eye on your ‘friends’ list – an increasing number of thieves have been known to add you as a buddy just to check your suitability as a victim.

2. Keep your home locked and possessions hidden. (Speaking as someone who has been the victim of two break-ins in the past few years, both of which occurred in broad daylight on a Saturday afternoon, I have learned that it pays to hide valuable possessions when you leave your house unattended).

3. Buy a burglar alarm. Keep it set each night and whenever you leave the house – and don’t forget to have it tested every three months.

4. Fit a timer switch. Confused.com notes that if you’re going away and feel the need to tweet about it, the least you can do is give the impression that someone else is in. Timers are available for most products, meaning that you can have the TV, radio and lights programmed to make a burglar think that someone’s home. ( I do admit that I automatically think of that scene from “Home Alone” in which Joe Pesci’s character shows-off by telling what time each house’s timer is set to turn the lights on”).

5. Don’t try to hide your key outside your door - leave it with a friend or neighbour instead. There is pretty much no place that you can hide a key that a burgar won’t find it. If you have thought of hiding it there, chances are a burglar has too.

I would add one more to the list: Talk to your children about it. Just because you don’t use Twitter or Facebook doesn’t mean that other members of your family aren’t happily posting to their 500+ “friends” that they will be heading out on two week vacation with the entire family, leaving the home unattended. You not be on the cutting edge of ‘Twitdom’ but every new technology comes new risk; sometimes it pays to be uber-informed.