Social networking sites: 6 safety tips

Social networking sites: harmless fun, or something more sinister?  It seems like almost everyone is part of an online community these days, and certainly there are undeniable benefits in this.  For young people, these sites can provide a great opportunity to develop key technological and social skills.  It is important to remember, however, that there are also some very real dangers present in an online community – and leaving your children to freely explore it is more akin to leaving them alone in a foreign city than leaving them in front of the television!

And it is not only children that can become the victims of careless behaviour – most of us have heard stories of employers looking up prospective employees’ profiles on sites like Bebo and Facebook and turning them down because of “that photo” from the weekend!  You have also probably heard stories of evidence of people’s personal lives taken from these kinds of sites being used against them in Court because the material is discoverable.  Even more sobering is the growing incidence of issues arising in the context of businesses using these sites and continued incidences of identity and intellectual property theft, harassment and predatory behaviour associated with social networking sites.

Below are 6 safety tips to help protect against these real dangers in a “virtual reality”.

1. Know Your Environment

Keep in mind that you are not just presenting information for a closed group of friends – even if you have a “closed profile” you can not always be sure of this.  The reality is that anything you post may be accessible by a much wider group than you intend it to be – AND could hang around for a much longer time than you expect it to!

2. Privacy Settings

Work out how to use the site’s privacy settings so that you know and can control (as far as possible) who can access the information you post.  You should also become familiar with how other “permissions” work – for example, even if you have not accepted someone as a “friend” on Facebook, they may still be able to view your profile if you reply to a message they send to you.  Privacy mechanisms and policies on sites are amended frequently.  Make sure you stay aware of the changes so that your profile and intellectual property are as private and secure as possible.

3. Accepting Friends

Be wary of who you accept as a friend and develop your own rules as to who you will and will not allow to access your personal material.  If you are a business and have created your profile intending it to be public, then it is a good idea to expressly alert users to proprietory matter, ie intellectual property.

4. Personal Information and Images

Even if you think you have deleted things, for example photos, your “digital footprints” are hard to erase, and they could end up coming back to haunt you even years down the track!

The best idea is to completely avoid posting personal information and more importantly photographs – as well as any other information that could potentially help people to work out any passwords you use (including birthdates, pets names, mothers’ maiden names).  You should also remember that there may be information about you in other places on the internet, and it is surprising what people can piece together about you by collating all of this information!

5. Reporting Abuses

Do not forget that as well as reporting abuses to the service provider, you can also report them to the police.  It is a good idea to keep copies of the relevant pages as “evidence” if you are going to report any issues.

Most social networking sites should have a facility for reporting abuses of their system.  They have their own rules as to what constitutes an abuse in the terms and conditions that you agree to when you sign up.  In addition, you have to remember that the general law still applies, so certain activities (e.g. Child pornography, harassment) will be illegal.

6. Parents: Children and Social Media

The length of time these sites have been available has not changed the safety concerns relating to children using social media sites. It goes without saying that in the same way that it is important to teach your children not to take sweets from strangers on the street, it is vital to talk to them about internet safety and stranger danger in an online community where they will be exposed to sexual predators, drug dealers and bullies.  Discuss with them the benefits of social networking sites, the risks, and ways they can protect themselves so that they are not lulled into that false sense of security and anonymity that the “virtual reality” of the internet often provides. Monitor use and protect material posted wherever possible.