Observe and think about how different social networking sites work before deciding to join a site. Some sites will allow only a defined community of users to access posted content; others allow anyone and everyone to view postings.
Take some control over the information you post in social networking sites. You may want to restrict access to your page to a select group of people, for example, your friends from school, your club, your team, your community groups, or your family.
Keep your private information to yourself. Don’t post your full name, Social Security number (SSN), address, phone number, or bank and credit card account numbers in social networking sites. Be cautious about posting information that could be used to identify you or locate you offline. This could include the name of your school, sports team, clubs, and where you work or hang out.
Make sure your social networking’s screen name doesn’t say too much about you. Don’t use your name, your age, or your hometown. Even if you think your screen name makes you anonymous, it doesn’t take a genius to combine clues to figure out who you are and where you can be found.
Post only information that you are comfortable with others seeing and knowing about you in social networking sites. Take note that many people can see your page, including your parents, your teachers, the college you might want to apply to next year, or the job you might want to apply for in four years.
Remember that once you post information online in social networking sites, you can’t take it back. Even if you delete the information from a site, older versions exist on other people’s computers or search engine caches.
Consider not posting your photo in social networking sites. It can be altered and broadcast in ways you may not be happy about. If you do post one, ask yourself whether it’s one your mom would display in the living room.
Flirting with strangers online in social networking sites could have serious consequences. This is due to the fact that some people lie about who they really are, you never really know who you’re dealing with.
Be wary if a new online friend from social networking sites wants to meet you in person. Before you decide to meet someone, do your own research: Ask whether any of your friends know the person, and see what background you can dig up through online search engines. If you decide to meet them, be smart about it: Meet in a public place, during the day, with friends you trust. Tell an adult or a responsible sibling where you’re going, and when you expect to be back.
Trust your gut if you have suspicions. If you feel threatened by someone or uncomfortable because of something online, tell an adult you trust and report it to the police and the social networking sites. You could end up preventing someone else from becoming a victim.
