wise words internet safety
Social Networking Safety
By
Sue C . Jones , M . Ed ., FOCUS Director
They love it ! And oftentimes it seems that they can ’ t live without it . You may feel like your child is much more Internet savvy than you are , and in fact , that may be true ! But as savvy as your teen may be , he or she may not be aware of the dangers of online networking and what precautions need to be taken to stay safe . It is time to talk to your teen about social networking safety .
The National Crime Prevention Council ’ s website has valuable information to assist parents in educating their teens and tweens about social network safety .
The three major dangers of using social networking websites are :
1
OVERSHARING INFORMATION . When creating a profile page , most websites will ask for personal information such as home addresses , birthdays , and phone numbers . Giving this information can be very dangerous and the information will be made public to anyone who visits a user ’ s profile page , if privacy settings are not set correctly .
2
LOCATION-BASED SERVICES . Location-based services can be one of the most dangerous features provided by social networking sites . It exposes the profile user ’ s whereabouts . The service also has a feature that allows users to tag who they are with at any given time . While it can be fun to share your location with friends and family , it can also increase your vulnerability , potentially opening you up to being robbed , sexually assaulted , or worse . Predators can use this tool to track your movements and determine when you are alone or when you are not at home .
3
POSTING PHOTOS . Posting inappropriate photos that may be deemed as fun , cute , or sexy can end up where one least expects it . Photo tampering is a big threat when it comes to posting photos online . The use of photo editing tools allows people to manipulate online images in any way they choose , whether it ’ s used for good or bad purposes . While posting pictures and sharing them with friends can be fun , it can also be risky .
12 | Spring 2017 www . potentialmagazine . com