FWIW, I do not consider sites like this "social media" but rather a "discussion forum". I've been using the likes since the dial up BBS days - even ran one for a number of years. There's no way to completely protect oneself on the Internet, but you can VASTLY reduce your "footprint" by using a bit of common sense.
The first rule, and the most important, NEVER, EVER use your real name on publicly accessible areas of the Internet. N.E.V.E.R. Not on discussion forums, not on websites, and certainly not on so-called "social media" sites like the ones under discussion. I only do so when purchasing things "Name on card". This makes me a vastly smaller target. I find it disturbing that many ignore this, a lot of them are radio amateurs ("Hams") following an admirable, but misplaced ethic of openness. The less information one puts out there, the better. You can't stop it, but you can limit it considerably - on the advice of an Internet security expert, I've even gone as far as to remove myself from data agregator's sites as best I can.
Face***k has been a thorn in my side since well before it became the behemoth it is today - back in the days when it was a small site limited to a few college campuses I had somebody link to my website claiming to be me. So I blocked all links from there, a policy that stands to this day. I log continued blocks every day, had 3 just yesterday. Probably people mostly trying to link to my sewing machine pages - I won't so dignify that site by even allowing that.
So put down that damn smartphone and GET OFF MY LAWN!
