I’m 19 and haven’t socialized much. After reading a lot of “horror stories”, what precautions should I take in life?

I’m 19 and I’ve recently been reading a lot of real-life stories friendship drama, family issues, office politics, betrayals, misunderstandings, legal messes, etc. Not just from one subreddit, but across the internet in general.

One thing that keeps coming up is “always keep documentation”, and that makes sense. But it also made me realize how messy real life can get, and honestly… how hard it is to fully trust people nowadays.

Since I haven’t socialized much yet, I’m curious and trying to learn before I step into more social, professional, and public spaces.

So my question is:

What are the basic precautions a young person should keep in mind to stay safe emotionally, socially, and practically?

Things like:

friendships

family dynamics

college / workplace situations

money matters

communication (texts, calls, promises, etc.)

I don’t want to become paranoid or closed off, but I do want to be aware and prepared.

If you’ve learned lessons the hard way, what would you tell your 19-year-old self?

Any advice, rules, or “things I wish I knew earlier” would really help.