Best Practices for Safe, Secure, Social Networking

The number of social networking sites is ever growing. Where once our only choice seemed to be Usenet or Friendster (remember those?), we now have a dizzying array from which to choose: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Flickr, Digg, Reddit, Instagram... the list goes on, and changes almost daily!

Overview

The number of social networking sites continues to grow rapidly. Where we once had limited options like Usenet or Friendster, we now have a vast array to choose from: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (now X), YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, Truth Social, and many more. The landscape is constantly evolving!

Social networking sites are fantastic for connecting with friends and have expanded in purpose. They are now integral to professional activities, such as providing or gathering information, developing contacts, identifying resources, and marketing or selling products. This proliferation of social networking sites makes it more important than ever to take safety concerns seriously.

Stay safe when engaging in social networking, whether for personal or professional use.

 

Detail

Tips to Keep Safety in Mind on Social Networking Sites

1. Manage Your Privacy Settings:

   • Familiarize yourself with and use the privacy and security settings on your social networking sites. These settings help you control who sees your posts and manage your online experience positively.

2. Remember: Once Posted, Always Posted:

   • Protect your reputation online. Think twice before posting anything you wouldn’t want your parents or future employers to see. Recent studies show that 70% of job recruiters have rejected candidates based on information found online.

3. Build a Positive Online Reputation:

   • Recruiters respond well to a strong, positive personal brand online. Showcase your talents and demonstrate your mastery of the digital environment.

4. Keep Personal Info Personal:

   • Be cautious about how much personal information you share. The more you post, the easier it is for someone to misuse that information for identity theft, data breaches, or other crimes like stalking.

5. Protect Your Computer:

   • Security starts with your device. Install antivirus software and keep your operating system, web browser, apps, and other software up to date.

6. Know What Action to Take:

   • If someone is harassing or threatening you, remove them from your friends list, block them, and report them to the site administrator.

7. Use Strong Passwords:

   • Ensure your passwords are at least eight characters long and include a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters (e.g., +, @, #, $).

8. Be Cautious with Links:

   • Even links that appear to come from friends can contain harmful software or be part of a phishing attack. If you’re suspicious, don’t click the link. Verify its validity with your friend first.

Stay safe and enjoy your social networking experience!

Privacy

You should always familiarize yourself with any site’s terms and conditions, which often outline their privacy policy. This helps you make an informed decision about what information to share and whether to join the site. For instance, Facebook’s terms and conditions can be found here.

Additionally, it’s crucial to learn about and use the privacy and security settings on social networks. These settings help you control who sees your posts. For example, you can learn more about Facebook’s privacy settings by visiting the Facebook Help Center and clicking the Privacy and Safety link.