Social Networking
 Social
networking websites are a relatively new form of social interaction,
taking place entirely online, and bringing together all types of
people. A social network can connect users with similar interests,
jobs, backgrounds, or skills, and can be used to garner friendships or
business contacts. While the benefits of using a social networking
website can be great, the dangers can be just as great.
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Types of Social
Networking
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Some
social networks, like MySpace, are general-purpose and appeal to people
of many different backgrounds. These websites allow users to
build profiles based on their interests and browse other people's
profiles that are similar. Other social networks, like
deviantART, allow users to showcase their skills and talents interact
with users having similar skills. Many of these sites emphasize
artwork or other media, and downplay personal profiles. Some
social networks, like tribe.net, are designed with user geography in
mind; they allow people to connect with others in their region, often
based on having similar interests. There are many other varieties
of social networks - some, like Facebook, connect users who went to
school together, and others connect people having similar
occupations. Still others are religious or spiritual in
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Social Networking Risks
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Because of the public nature of social networking sites, they make
any information you post easy to find by people you may or may not
know. Although many social networking sites have strict privacy
policies, users can still make private information available to the
public, including telephone numbers and home addresses. When
posting such information, it is crucial to keep in mind that once
published, anybody can read or save it; even if you delete it, search
engines sometimes cache old pages for reference and the data may remain
online in such a manner. If an e-mail address is posted publicly,
spammers may target that address and flood the victim's inbox.
Additionally,
users of region-based social networks are often the targets of scams,
especially networks encouraging transactions of some kind.
Further, the local nature of some networks allows users to easily meet
in person with other users; meeting unknown people always carries a
risk, especially for children.
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Children and Social Networking
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- Children
are especially vulnerable online, and that includes the use of social
networking websites; many have age restrictions, but children may adopt
a false age in order to join.
- Help your child build his or her profile so that it is fun and safe.
- Make
sure your child understands that any information posted online can be
seen by the whole world - not only strangers in another continent, but
also teachers, friends, or family members.
- Caution
your child that predators will have the ability to see all of the
information that they post, and urge them to avoid sharing private
information.
- Monitor your child's computer activity and ensure that he or she is not engaging in any unsafe practices.
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Staying Safe
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- Remember
that everything you post is public information and may be accessible by
anybody, even if you are keeping a private journal or blog. Avoid
posting your telephone number, home address, or e-mail address; if you
must share this information with someone you trust, send it through a
more secure medium.
- No matter how comfortable you
become with the Internet or with social networking sites, there are
predators who will take advantage of your information. These
predators may include bullies, spammers, identity thieves, hackers, or
those who present a threat offline.
- Be wary of meeting
people online. It is exceedingly easy to adopt a false persona
online, and social networks have no way of verifying the identities of
users who build profiles using their services. While not everyone
with an untrue profile may have malicious intent, it is wise to keep
this caution in mind.
- Configure your profile for safety! Many social networking sites allow you to customize the information you make public.
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| About CyberAngels |
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As part of its mission of "keeping it safe" The Guardian Angels moved beyond the streets and
responded to citizens' calls for protection from online threats with the launch of
CyberAngels in 1995. The volunteer-based CyberAngels is one of the oldest and most
respected online safety education programs in the world. Our organization
offers articles, instruction, tips and resources via our website to promote safe Internet use
by children and families, guide parents, and assist victims of cyber crimes. |
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