Do you know who's online?
Friday 29 September 2006
We're spending more time online than ever before, whether it's to send emails, get information and advice or just to chat to mates on the growing number of social networking sites.
Social networking sites are cool because they give you the chance to meet new people who have the same interests as you. They also let you keep up-to-date with your favourite bands or celebrities, most of whom have their own profiles.
You can add your own graphics, your favourite tracks and collect new 'friends' by asking to be 'added' to their profile. Their details will then also appear on your profile.
As with every site where you're chatting to people you don't really know that well, there are a few dangers.
We've teamed up with web safety site thinkUknow to give you the rundown of what you should look out for when you're using a social networking site.
Giving information
Be careful just how much info you give away on your profile, be it through the images you use, personal details you post or events you mention in your blog. While you may know your 'friends', you don't know who else might be looking at your profile.
It's best to use a nickname or initials on your profile and keep photos to a minimum; you shouldn't reveal other personal details like your address or phone number either.
Choosing your friends
It can be tempting to except 'add requests' from anybody, just so that you can bump up the number of friends you have. Before you accept, think carefully if this user is the kind of person you want to chat to.
Because a lot of young people use social networking sites, there is a chance that adults with bad intentions could be using them too.
It's probably safer just to chat with people that you actually know and trust in the real world. It's best not to make arrangements to meet online friends without a parent; you never really know who they are.
What you tell others
Think about the sort of stuff you talk about, too. As you're writing messages keep in the back of your mind whether with this info being out in the open, because once it's sent, it could be public!
Test yourself by asking “would I want my teacher/ Mum/ Dad/ stranger on the train to see this?!” If the answer’s no, don’t post it!
Getting help
If someone's being weird with your or your mates or just freaking you out or you're being bullied by another user, make sure you contact the site's administrator for help as soon as you can.
Most sites will have help pages telling you what to do in this situation. Don't stay silent: speak up so that it can be sorted.
If you think that the person contacting you might be an adult who wants to abuse you or your friends, you can report it straight away on thinkUknow.co.uk
