Account Signup Questions » Safety & Etiquette
Your Safety's at Stake - The FTC suggests these tips for socializing safely online:
* Think about how different sites work before deciding to join a site. Some sites will allow only a defined community of users to access posted content; others allow anyone and everyone to view postings.
* Think about keeping some control over the information you post. Consider restricting access to your page to a select group of people, for example, your friends from school, your club, your team, your community groups, or your family.
* Keep your information to yourself. Don't post your full name, Social Security number, address, phone number, or bank and credit card account numbers and don't post other peoples information, either. Be cautious about posting information that could be used to identify you or locate you offline. This could include the name of your school, sports team, clubs, and where you work or hang out.
* Make sure your screen name doesn't say too much about you. Dont use your name, your age, or your hometown. Even if you think your screen name makes you anonymous, it doesnt take a genius to combine clues to figure out who you are and where you can be found.
* Post only information that you are comfortable with others seeing and knowing about you. Many people can see your page, including your parents, your teachers, the police, the college you might want to apply to next year, or the job you might want to apply for in five years.
* Remember that once you post information online, you can't take it back. Even if you delete the information from a site, older versions exist on other peoples computers.
* Consider not posting your photo. It can be altered and broadcast in ways you may not be happy about. If you do post one, ask yourself whether its one your mom would display in the living room.
(All pitctures you post on EvacuationHelp.com are by default invisible to other members - members will have to send you a request to see your pictures which you can allow or deny at any time via the EvacFavorites in your control panel.)
* Flirting with strangers online could have serious consequences. Because some people lie about who they really are, you never really know who youre dealing with.
* Be wary is a new online friend wants to meet you in person. Before you decide to meet someone, do your research: Ask whether any of your friends know the person and see what background you can dig up through using online search engines. If you do decide to meet them, be smart: Meet in a public place during the day and, if possible, with friends. At the very least, tell your friends where you are going, that you are going to meet someone you met online, and when you expect to be back.
* Always trust your gut or your intuition or whatever you want to call it. If you feel threatened or uncomfortable because of someone’s behavior online, tell your friends online about it and report it to the social networking site you’re on. Report it to the police if you think you or someone else might be in danger.
Last update: 2006-12-17 12:59
Author: Kai
Revision: 1.0
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