You’ve probably learned a long list of important safety
and privacy lessons already: Look both ways before crossing
the street; buckle up; hide your diary where your nosy
brother can’t find it; don’t talk to strangers.
The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer
protection agency, is urging kids to add one more lesson to
the list: Don’t post information about yourself online that
you don’t want the whole world to know. The Internet is the
world’s biggest information exchange: many more people could
see your information than you intend, including your
parents, your teachers, your employer, the police — and
strangers, some of whom could be dangerous.
Social networking sites have added a new factor to the
“friends of friends” equation. By providing information
about yourself and using blogs, chat rooms, email, or
instant messaging, you can communicate, either within a
limited community, or with the world at large. But while the
sites can increase your circle of friends, they also can
increase your exposure to people who have less-than-friendly
intentions. You’ve heard the stories about people who were
stalked by someone they met online, had their identity
stolen, or had their computer hacked.
Here is a video with the latest statistics:
Your Safety’s at Stake
The FTC suggests these tips for socializing safely online:
Think about how different 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.
Think about keeping some control over the information you
post. Consider restricting 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 information to yourself. Don’t post your full
name, Social Security number, address, phone number, or bank
and credit card account numbers — and don’t post other
people’s information, either. 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 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. Many people can see your
page, including your parents, your teachers, the police, the
college you might want to apply to next year, or the job you
might want to apply for in five years.
Remember that once you post information online, you can’t
take it back. Even if you delete the information from a
site, older versions exist on other people’s computers.
Consider not posting your photo. 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 could have serious
consequences. Because some people lie about who they really
are, you never really know who you’re dealing with.
Be wary if a new online friend wants to meet you in person.
Before you decide to meet someone, do your 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 site. You could end up preventing
someone else from becoming a victim.
