Internet Safety: Social Networking

SOCIAL NETWORKING

Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and LinkedIn have become extremely popular in recent years, both with teenagers and adults alike.  They are a great way to keep in touch with family both near and across the globe and get back in touch with friends you may have lost contact with from your school days.  Be wary of how much personal information you post or allow to be public on these sites, however.  Follow some of these tips to enjoy your social networking sites more safely.

 

Use the privacy and security settings.

Read about, learn about and use the privacy and security settings on any of the social networking sites you partake in.  These settings help you control who can see information about you and what you post and they are your most basic but most important form of safety on social networks.  If you are posting any personal information always make sure you adjust these settings accordingly so that you aren't posting personal information for all the public to peruse.

 

Once posted, always posted.

Protect your reputation on social networks.  What you post online stays online, so think twice before posting pictures or text that you would not want your future employers to see.  Recent research shows that 70% of job recruiters have rejected candidates based on information they found online.

 

Keep your personal information personal.

Be cautious about how much personal information you provide on social networking sites.  The more information you post, the easier it may be for a hacker or someone else to use that information to steal your identity, access your data, or commit other crimes such as stalking.

 

Be honest if you are uncomfortable.

If a friend posts something (text or a picture) about you that makes you uncomfortable or you think is inappropriate, let them know.  Likewise, if a friend approaches you with the same concerns, be open-minded to removing materials that a friend may find disconcerting.  Everyone has different tolerances for how much the world wide web has access to about them so we need to respect those differences about one another.

 

Know what action to take.

If someone is harassing or threatening you, remove them from your friends list, block them, and report them to the site administrator or use the website's report function.  There is always a way to report abuse on social websites, but make certain that you are taking action yourself by no longer interacting with the person or allowing the person to see the information you post.

 

View this BrainPOP video for more information about social networking.  (Requires LE Login to view.)

 

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