But be warned, don't post your travel plan details on Facebook or MySpace.
There was a recent burglary in Kentucky with a rather odd cause. A woman posted on Facebook that she and her husband were gone for the evening. While they were away, one of her so called "friends" broke into her house.
Attorney General Jack Conway wanrs about the dangers that exist on the internet. Not only kids have to be cautious about what they do on the internet, also parents need to be careful.
Parents and kids shouldn't put too much personal information on Facebook or MySpace. Even an age or your hobby's could be enough for burglars to search contact with you.
You also have to be careful with what you post. Posting wrong things can jeopardize your employment (saying bad things about your boss) and your relationship with friends and family.
Mr. Conway also gives some tips for parents:
- Be a "friend" to your child on social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace.
- Ask to see their profile page to make sure it does not contain personal information that could compromise their safety.
- Keep the computer in a public area of the home such as family room or kitchen.
And some tips for kids:
- Protect your password and make sure you really know who someone is before you allow them to be an online friend.
- Blur or morph your photos a bit so they won't be abused by cyberbullies or predators.
- Remember, what you post online stays online forever.
I agree with Mr. Conway to not post too much information about yourself on social networking sites. I myself hardly post anything on Facebook, but there are other people that post every move they make on it. Those are easy victims for burglars. The burglars know where they are at any given moment and they don't have to do anything for it. The "victims" give all the necessary information voluntary.
So I think it's very important to follow the tips Mr. Conway gave. They are very helpful to lower the risk of "cyber-abuse".
Written by Dieter De Smet
Source: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/04/spring_break_postings.html (April 2, 2010)
This is a very interesting blog, Dieter! Also I wrote a blog about the disadvantages of social networking sites. And indeed you need to be careful! Hopefully social networking sites will never hurting my life!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenBut don’t forget advantages of these sites. For example: you can exchange photos, you can find friends back you haven’t seen for a long time, etc.
It's true!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenyou think that's everything is alright until some freak will folow you in everything what you do and everywhere you go!
you have to be carefull with who you become friends with!
you never know who's behind that computer!
but I only use it now and then so I don't think some freak will folow me :)
it's like liesbeth said! it's the place to meet old friends and to share pictures with eachother
(unless you don't want to be on some pictures :)