7 Ways To Stay Safe On A Social Networking Site
Social networking sites such as MySpace, FaceBook, Xanga, etc. have become all the rage as the cultural zeitgeist has moved towards online life. People do everything from their computers these days, so why not add socializing onto it? While they are a lot of fun and can keep one connected to far away friends, these sites can also be dangerous if not used correctly, and unfortunately, not many people do. Here are some quick tips to help you stay safe and secure online.
#1: Utilize your Security settings:
When you log onto and sign up for one of these sites, there is always a toolbar somewhere on the screen that will say something along the lines of “settings”. Most people are too busy blogging and chatting to worry about such an unsocial part of their experience, but it is necessary. When you sign up, you release your password, e-mail, and other personal information to the site. Some options in here even can stop your information from being sold to advertising agencies for a quick profit.
#2: Make your profile private:
Unless you are a business or a band, you will want your profile to be private. You can most likely find the privacy options in the settings tab. This will allow only people whom you designate as friends via an invite or a message to be able to view and comment on your profile. This will also keep people you don’t know from trying to get at your personal information.
#3: Watch out who you “friend”:
The main premise of most of these sites is to have friends. These are a great feature to be had, as it allows you to instantly communicate with these people and separates them in alphabetical order. Some people take this too far though. They think that having the most friends is a game, and their inflated egos lead them to request and accept random people, allowing more people access to their page with all sorts of sensitive information. Who you think is a friend might not actually be a friend.

