What to know
- A 2025 Allstate Canada survey found that about one-third of Canadians who use social media may increase their risk of a home break-in by sharing vacation plans or posting while they’re away.
- The risk is higher among younger adults, with 51 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 34 saying they post trip details before leaving, while 39 per cent of all participants said they share updates during their vacation.
- Allstate’s data from 2015 to 2024 shows property theft rises every summer, with August typically recording the highest number of break-ins.
- To reduce the risk, Allstate recommends waiting until after coming home to post vacation photos, avoiding pre-trip announcements, using a home security system, asking a trusted neighbour to check on the property, and disabling geolocation on social media posts.
If you’re going on vacation this summer, you may want to lay off on posting your location until after you return, as a new study suggests people documenting their travels during their time away are more likely to be victims of a home invasion.
In a 2025 survey, commissioned by insurance company Allstate Canada, data revealed that around one-third of social media users may risk home break-ins by posting vacation plans.
When comparing this data to how many people are inclined to post during the trip, the number of break-ins can be significant, with 39 per cent of the 1,603 participants reporting they like to share their travels online during their time away.
Allstate said data from 2015 to 2024 shows property theft increases annually over the summer, with August most often seeing the most break-ins.
According to a different Allstate survey from 2025, 68 percent of Canadians on social media planned to leave home for at least a few days over the summer. Ahead of the trip, 32 per cent of those polled said they like to share details online about their trip before or while travelling.
Among young adults, that number increases.
About 51 per cent of participants aged 18 to 34-year-olds said they share trip details online prior to leaving home, something Allstate says makes them vulnerable to a break-in at home while they’re abroad.
During the trip, 29 per cent of participants share content to show off their vacation, putting their residence back at home at risk.
Parents tend to be the first to post, with 37 per cent of those with kids more inclined to share their family trips than those without.
While 62 per cent of respondents said their priority during vacation is to keep their home safe and secure, 15 per cent still said sharing on social media was their priority.
Allstate stated that due to the non-probabilistic nature of the web survey’s sample, the calculation of the margin of error does not apply, although, for comparison, a probabilistic sample of 1,603 respondents would have a global margin of error of ± 2.45 per cent 19 times out of 20. The margin of error increases for subgroups.
How to keep your home safe while on vacation
Allstate said that the months of July through November are the busiest time for theft annually, making summer break a vulnerable period to keep your home safe.
To ensure a house is secure, the insurance company recommends all travellers and residents in the home wait to post their pictures on social media until after they return home.
Additionally, Allstate says to avoid posting information about the trip prior to going, especially countdowns telling others when you’ll be leaving.
Before leaving, make sure your home security system is active, and that you have a trusted neighbour or other confidant who is able to check in on your home while you’re gone.
The company also advises having the right coverage on your home insurance policy with your insurance professional to make sure you won’t be in deep water when you return.
Finally, if you’re posting on the trip, make sure your socials are private to a more intimate audience, and turn off geolocations on your phone’s settings so your photos will not indicate to others where they were taken.
