Are You Oversharing Online? The Hidden Risks of AI-Powered Social Media
- Ankita Tiwari
- Apr 10
- 6 min read
I know at some point, you’ve likely played around with an Instagram filter, tested out a quirky Snapchat lens, and even interacted with an AI bot- just for fun! Maybe you’ve laughed at how a filter made you look older, or were genuinely amazed by how precisely Instagram curates reels based on your mood or mindset.
But, have you ever paused to consider
why it all feels so intuitive? ?
Why does it feel like your feed is reading your mind?
The answer lies in the invisible yet deeply embedded algorithms powered by Artificial Intelligence.
Social media is no longer a passive space for sharing updates and consuming casual content. Platforms like Whatsapp, Linkedin, Instagram, now leverage sophisticated machine learning models that analyze millions of data points per user per day to personalize, predict and even influence user behaviour.
It curates not just our feeds, but our choices- what we like, who we follow, and increasingly, what we purchase.
While this creates a seamless and delightful user experience, it also raises questions about autonomy, privacy and psychological depth of our digital footprints.
Are we sharing too much without even realising it?
Let's dive in!
How AI powers your Social Media Experience
Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t just some high-tech buzzword—it’s the brain quietly working behind the scenes every time you scroll, tap, or swipe on your favorite apps. It’s constantly learning from what you like, comment on, or skip.
Let’s take a simple look at how AI is changing your everyday experience across apps like Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn.
Instagram & Snapchat
You know those cool filters that make your face look like a puppy or those auto captions under your Reels?
They’re powered by something called Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs)—a type of AI that can create new images or effects by learning from millions of examples.
Instagram has even started testing a new feature where Reels can be translated and dubbed in your own language. It uses a smart AI tool called SeamlessM4T (yes, the name is a mouthful!) that not only translates the words but also changes the speaker’s voice and lips so it looks like they’re speaking your language. Pretty futuristic, right?
Snapchat’s “My AI” chatbot works a bit like ChatGPT. It learns from your chats and becomes better at replying the more you use it.
What most people don’t know is that it even adjusts its tone based on your mood—like if you're being funny or serious, it tries to match that vibe.
Whatsapp and Linkedin
Have you ever noticed how WhatsApp suggests the perfect emoji reply, almost like it reads your mind? Or how LinkedIn shows you “People You May Know” even before you go looking?
That’s AI doing its thing—silently tracking your chats, clicks, and activity patterns to give you a smoother experience.
WhatsApp uses something called machine learning algorithms to figure out whose statuses you care about the most. If you message or call someone often—or even react to their statuses—they’ll show up first in your list. People you don’t interact with much- they get pushed down the order.
LinkedIn works in a similar way, but even smarter. It uses Graph-Based AI to understand your network- who you’re connected to, who your friends know, and even which companies or industries you look at often. Then, it uses that information to suggest people or jobs you might like.
What’s crazy is that platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp all use this kind of ranking system—called an engagement-based algorithm—to show you more of what they think you’ll respond to.
It’s not random. It’s calculated to keep you scrolling.
The Dark Side-
While AI improves what we see and do online, it also collects huge amounts of data from our clicks to conversations. This helps platforms keep us engaged, but it also raises serious concerns around privacy control, and how much we really understand about what’s happening behind the screen.
Let’s break down some of the biggest concerns one by one-
Deep-fake videos
Deepfakes are AI generated pictures, videos or voices made by AI that look and sound real, but are totally fake. In 2022, there were around 3,000 deepfakes and in just one year, it jumped to over 95,000.
This technology has been misused to create misleading content involving public figures. What’s even worse is that 90% of these deepfakes target women, often making fake adult content from photos posted publicly, profile pictures, etc.
For instance, Bollywood Actress Vidya Balan and Rashmika Mandanna have been targeted with deepfake videos leading to concerns about misinformation and privacy violation.
Privacy Violation
Oversharing personal information such as live location, daily routines or intimate details can lead to privacy breaches. For example- Whatsapp, despite its encryption, was flagged for potential security loopholes that could expose user locations.
All these data can be exploited in various ways-
Identity theft- Oversharing details like your birthday, real-time location or even pet name,
Targeted scams- Fraudsters can use your personal information to craft convincing scams.
For example: AI voice-cloning technology has been used to impersonate individuals, leading to financial fraud.
It is being misused by scammers to mimic voices of family or friends, tricking people into sending money. A global study found that 1 in 4 people have experienced this, and in India, the number jumps to 47% .
83% of Indian victims said they had a loss of money- with 48% losing over INR 50,000.
Stalking and harassment- sharing your lifestyle, your college or workplace location, tagging your friends on social media, et cetera all these can expose you to physical threats.
Employers and Universities use AI to Screen You
Many companies and universities are now using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help them decide who to hire or admit. They use AI programs to look through social media profiles, resumes and other online information to learn more about applicants.
This means that what you share online, even a long time ago, can be found and analyzed by these AI tools.
AI can identify posts or photos that show risky behaviour such as partying or sharing controversial opinions.
AI might misinterpret jokes or sarcasm as negative traits, leading to unfair judgements about your personality.
A survey revealed that 49% of employed job seekers believe AI recruiting tools are more biased than human recruiters, raising concerns about fairness in the hiring process.
To understand more about the dangers of using AI in hiring and firing, read this article- The Dangers of using AI in Hiring and Firing
Your Data, Their Profit
Ever searched “best budget phones” and suddenly your feed is full of phone ads? That’s not a coincidence—it’s AI at work.
Social media platforms constantly track what you search, like, comment on, and even what you pause to watch. This creates a digital profile of you, which helps them predict your interests and behavior.
This is how brands show you exactly what you’re likely to click on. It’s not just smart tech—it’s big business. In fact, the digital advertising industry made over $600 billion in 2023 by using this data to run targeted ads. And it's expected to grow even more in the coming years.
Stay Safe Online with These Easy Tips-
Don’t overshare personal info or images online
Turn off app permissions you don’t really need
Be skeptical of messages asking for money—even if the voice sounds familiar
Report anything suspicious, especially on social media platforms
Learn how to verify images and videos before trusting them.
Final Thoughts
AI in social media makes things more fun, faster, and even a little magical—whether it's getting the perfect meme or seeing videos that match your mood. But behind the fun are powerful systems collecting data, predicting behavior, and sometimes crossing the line between helpful and invasive.
That’s why it’s important to not just use social media—but to understand it. A few smart actions—like checking your privacy settings, being careful with what you share, and staying curious about how the tech works—can go a long way in keeping you safe.
So the real question is- Now that you know what’s happening behind the scenes…would you change the way you use social media after reading this?
Let’s discuss in the comments!
(The author is a content writer at Riskinfo.ai, an advocate, and a blogger. Views expressed are personal.)
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