Social Media Cybersecurity: A Behavioural and Technological Perspective

Abstract Social media platforms' rapid expansion has made cybersecurity a major issue that affects billions of users globally. This study examines cybersecurity's function, effects, and safeguards in relation to social media. Users of social media are more vulnerable to a variety of online dangers, such as dangerous software, phishing scams, cyberbullying, identity theft, and phony profiles. These risks impact users' emotional health and organizational security in addition to compromising personal data. Although the majority of platforms have built-in security protections, the study emphasizes that user awareness and behavior have a big impact on overall protection. The study also finds that many users do not comprehend or make use of the security settings that are offered to them. A multimodal strategy including user education, safe behavior guidelines, and cutting-edge technological solutions like multi-factor authentication and AI-driven threat detection is necessary for effective cybersecurity on social media. This assessment highlights that cybersecurity is a human-centric problem rather than just a technical one, and that responsible user behavior and ongoing knowledge are crucial. In order to improve cybersecurity resilience in social media contexts, the article ends by suggesting best practices and future research avenues. Keywords: Cybersecurity, Social Media, Online Threats, Phishing, User Behavior, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).