Safe social networking
Although Facebook looks like a closed community for students, other people can also join it. Major employers are known to check out the profiles of job applicants on this and similar sites.
How can I keep safe when using social networking services?
- Social networking services, such as Facebook, MySpace, Friends Reunited, Bebo, Twitter and so on, can be fun. However, always read the privacy agreement to see what you are agreeing to - and remember that privacy agreements can change.
- Be careful about how much information you disclose about yourself - many of these sites are open to anyone and disclosing personal information could have unwanted results, such as identity theft or "cyberstalking".
- You can leave yourself open to being physically burgled by giving too much information away about your current movements and location. If you tell people where you are, that tells the less honest ones where you're not - i.e. at home. See the Please Rob Me website .
- If you decide to meet up with someone you've met online, make sure to meet in a public place - or better still, take a friend along too.
Further information
The following links have useful information on keeping safe and other issues: