Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Viral Video Explains Why It's A Bad Idea To Share Your Vaccination Card Pics On Social Media

Viral Video Explains Why It's A Bad Idea To Share Your Vaccination Card Pics On Social Media
@CNBCMakeIt/Twitter

After a brutal 2020 marked by unfathomable loss of life, political upheaval and a historically antisocial lifestyle for most human beings, 2021 brought with it the promise of multiple effective vaccines that have switched on a light at the end of the tunnel.

The vaccination effort—one of the most difficult logistical undertakings in modern history—will, of course, not happen over night. In the US, here at the beginning of April, the CDC reports over 97 million people, or 29% of the national population have received at least their first dose.


We have a long way to go, and cases continue to rise alongside the hopeful vaccination rollout, but it's hard to ignore a palpable excitement in the air as people, one by one, sit down for their first jab.

Not surprisingly, that excitement has reared its head on social media. Selfies with vaccination cards clearly visible have dotted Facebook, TikTok and Instagram accounts left and right.

But a recent online video published by CNBC has pumped the breaks on the popular decision to post that card for all to see.

"Those cards contain personal information like your full name and date of birth. Experts warn that posting to social media can leave us vulnerable to identity theft and scams."
"Scammers can use your date of birth to figure out your social security number. And with that information they can create phony vaccination cards to sell, open up credit in your name, even collect your tax refund."

The speaker in the video then advised a modified approach.

"If you insist on sharing, black out that personal information. Or, better yet, leave that card out entirely."
"The Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission both recommend sharing your vaccination sticker instead."

Many who saw the video were already annoyed by the trend of posting the card online for other reasons besides identity theft.




Others were up in arms about another key detail from the video.



Some wondered if this problematic sharing has been happening for quite awhile already.


Alas, it's ultimately up to you what you do with your vaccination card and your social media account. But do take a second before posting and think about what may come of that choice.

More from Trending

Donald Trump
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Slammed After Saying He's 'Not Joking' About Running For A Third Term

Republican President Donald Trump was ridiculed for insisting he was "not joking" about running for a third presidential term, which would violate the Constitution under the 22nd Amendment, stating a President cannot be elected beyond a second term.

In an NBC interview Sunday morning, Trump maintained his allies were pushing for a third term for the Trump administration.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Donald Trump
Fox News

Trump Ripped For Bonkers Answer After Being Asked To Define What A 'Woman' Is

President Donald Trump was called out after he was asked by a conservative reporter at the end of Women's History Month to give his definition of a "woman"—only to show that he doesn't even know his own talking points let alone those of the wider GOP.

This past Friday, Trump attended the swearing-in ceremony for interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Alina Habba, where he also took questions.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Karoline Leavitt
C-SPAN2

Karoline Leavitt Gives Mind-Boggling Update On Signal Group Chat Scandal—And Critics Are Furious

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was called out after she dismissed reporters' questions amid revelations that Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was invited into a Signal chat with high-level Trump administration officials, particularly Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, discussing military strategy surrounding war strikes in Yemen.

Lawmakers from both parties have increased their calls demanding an investigation into the Signal scandal. The latest push came from Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee, who on Monday sent a letter to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard calling for an independent probe.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kids in a classroom
Maskot/Getty Images

Tennessee Senate Passes Bill Requiring Schools To Teach Students To Get Married And Have Kids

The Republican-led Tennessee Senate has passed a bill that requires schools to teach children a "success sequence" that emphasizes the importance of getting married and having children.

If approved by the state House, the “Success Sequence Act” would require schools to teach students about the purported “positive personal and societal outcomes” of following a prescribed sequence of life events: earning a high school diploma or equivalent, entering the workforce or pursuing higher education, getting married, and then having children.

Keep ReadingShow less
Two people flirting
Photo by Jed Villejo on Unsplash

People Break Down Telltale Signs That Someone Thinks You're Attractive

Let's be honest: Some of us are pretty clueless when it comes to flirting.

Whether it's knowing how to flirt or suspecting when someone is flirting with us and acting on it, we fumble our way through the experience and might only occasionally find our way to a date or relationship.

Keep ReadingShow less