5 things you need to know about social networking

Keep private things private.

Don't imagine that anything you post on a Web site will remain private. Always assume that someone out there will find a way to read it. And one more very important thing to remember: Regardless of whether you like it or not, someone out there could determine to make use of your photo or your writing or your name in ways you by no means imagined or wanted. It might not be legal, but that doesn't appear to matter to some individuals.

Do not embarrass yourself.

Here's a pretty good rule to adhere to: Don't put anything online that you wouldn't want your parents, your best friends, your worst enemies, a college admissions officer, a possible employer, the police, or anyone else to see. If someday you win American Idol or are signed to a $25 million contract to play professional baseball, would you like a reporter to find your old Facebook page and show it towards the world?

Usually assume that someone will notice.

Do you really want everyone to see that picture? Will you really feel the same way in 10 years? You might appear really great in your new outfit or bathing suit. That picture of you in the party exactly where you made that strange face and held a can of beer in your hand - whether you drank it or not - might seem funny now, but would you want a college admissions officer or an employer to see it? Remember: Once you post something online, you stand a great chance of losing control with the ownership of the picture.

Use security settings wisely.

Take the time to set privacy guidelines for your page. Most social Web sites (MySpace and Facebook included) allow you to make your page private or public. Do you really want everyone to be able to read your profile and contact you, or do you would like to have the ability to invite only those people you realize and accept invitations from friends? If you make your profile "public," you need to assume that you are going to hear from strangers.

Here's a tip for the cautious but adventurous kind: Produce both a public and private page and maintain separate e-mail addresses for each. You can relax (a little) on your private page, and you can maintain a cautious eye on the public one. If the public page (and its separate e-mail address) begin to fill up with garbage, you can close down the page and e-mail account.

Maintain a low profile.

Don't give out information that strangers have no need to understand. Keep your phone quantity to yourself. Don't list your house address or post a picture in front of your home or your school or someplace recognizable, and don't reveal details that may permit someone to figure out how you can find you.

Like what? If you say in your profile that you adore to hang out at Smiley's Ice Cream Parlor every Thursday night following bowling at Hometown Lanes, you may be giving a creep sufficient information to find you without your permission. You might not give the name of your school in your profile, but did you pose in a uniform or having a T-shirt that provides a lurker enough information to determine exactly where you are?

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