The Social Networking scene has taken the Internet by storm. It seems as though everyone you
know is either setup with a MySpace, Twitter or FaceBook account, sometimes even all three!
What you don’t know is that if you don’t pay attention to how your profile or account is configured,
you could be sharing your information with the rest of the online world. For children and minors,
this could pose even more risk.
These tips are designed to help you have a safer presence in your social network.
1. If you have an account on a Social Networking site, make sure that the privacy controls are
set to the highest level possible. Your information should only be visible to people who you know
or want to share the information with.
2. Keep your personal information limited. Items such as your residential address, phone
numbers, or your date of birth will all become very public information instantly and it will
come back to haunt you in many ways.
3. Be careful of posting photos on your social networking site. If you decide to upload pictures,
make sure that your privacy settings are setup to only allow your friends to view them.
4. Be alert to what people are posting on your account. You should setup your account to allow only people that you know to post comments. In some cases, you might be able to confirm whatever
is being posted so that you don’t have any surprises. Remember that when a comment hits your
site, all of your friends will be able to see it.
5. Be wary of posting your whereabouts, as you don’t want that sort of information in the wrong
hands. A woman was recently robbed of $10,000 worth of goods after tipping off burglars that her house would be vacant via a FaceBook status update.
Remember, Social Networking sites are mainly intended to find old friends and to keep in touch with friends and family. Posting every detail about your personal life might end up getting you in trouble.
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