'Loose tweets destroy fleets': US Air Force issues updated warning for soldiers on social media

The Air Force is concerned that information accidentally released on social media could put military members in danger

The modern take on an old poster is more suited for the social media age (Staff Sgt. Emerson Nuñez/US Air Force)

The US Air Force has issued an updated version of the old World War Two warning 'loose lips sink ships', in an effort to warn servicepeople of the dangers of irresponsible social media use.

The new poster, issued by Captain Jonathan McDonald of the US Air Force Central Command, instead reads 'loose tweets destroy fleets', and is accompanied by a 'critical information list' of operation details that could potentially be dangerous to the US military if they were revealed.

The list includes information relating to training availability or shortages, current or future deployment details, indications of internet line speed and the specific locations of core facilities and key personnel.

All of this information could be released accidentally through social media by military members, and the Air Force is keen to cut down on leaks of vital information.

The original World War Two poster warned soldiers about the danger of talking about sensitive information (Public domain)

Captain McDonald said: "As social media keeps evolving and there's more and more avenues to let your friends and family know what you are up to, those same avenues can be used by Isis sympathisers, 'lone wolves', to track down and hurt our military members outside the safety of the base."

"Not only is it important to not post vital mission related information, but it's also important to not post detailed personal information to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

He added: "It's vital to check your security settings in your social media accounts to make sure that just your friends are able to see what you post and remember to be smart about what you post and share."

Isis are known for their extensive use of social media in their operations and propaganda efforts, and there's a real danger that a US soldier simply moaning about the slow connection on their base on Twitter, or a pilot on leave posting a picture of their family on Instagram, could potentially give away enough information to put themselves in danger.

So far, such an incident has not occurred to US military personal, but an Isis fighter did get on the wrong side of social media earlier this year.

The fighter posted a selfie online, with an Isis command building behind him. US Forces were later able to find his location from this picture, and 22 hours later dropped three bombs on the building, destroying it.