Identity Theft |
"I know friends who have gotten rusticated from school because of pictures and inappropriate material they have on their profiles," he says.
His advice is simple: "Be smart about what you put on the Internet, because you never know who is looking at what you have on there."
From the first time you log on to a social networking site, pick a screen name for instant messaging (IM), or post to a blog on your favorite band, you're creating an online identity.
21st century |
Playing around and trying on different characteristics are part of the fun of an online life. You can change your look or the way you act and present yourself to others, and you can learn more about things that interest you. And, just as in real life, you can take steps to help make sure you stay in control.
Things
to Consider
Here are some things to consider to
safeguard your online identity and reputation:
Remember that nothing is temporary
online. The virtual world is full of
opportunities to interact and share with people around the world. It's also a
place where nothing is temporary and there are no "take-backs." A lot
of what you do and say online can be retrieved online even if you delete it —
and it's a breeze for others to copy, save, and forward your information.
Mark your profiles as private as
possible. Anyone who accesses your profile on
a social networking site can copy or screen-capture information and photos that
you may not want the world to see. Don't rely on the site's default settings.
Read each site's instructions or guidelines to make sure you're doing
everything you can to keep your material private.
Safeguard your passwords and change
them frequently. If someone logs on to a site and
pretends to be you, they can trash your identity. Pick passwords that no one
will guess (don't use your favorite band or your dog's birthday; try thinking
of two utterly random nouns and mixing in a random number), and change them
often. Never share them with anyone other than your parents or a trusted adult.
Not even your best friend, boyfriend, or girlfriend should know your private
passwords!
Don't post inappropriate or sexually
provocative pictures or comments.
Things that seem funny or cool to you right now might not seem so cool years
from now — or when a teacher, admissions officer, or potential employer sees
them. A good rule of thumb is: if you'd feel weird if your grandmother, coach,
or best friend's parents saw it, it's probably not a good thing to post. Even
if it's on a private page, it could be hacked or copied and forwarded.
Don't respond to inappropriate
requests. Research shows that a high
percentage of teens receive inappropriate messages and solicitations when
they're online. These can be scary, strange, and even embarrassing. If you feel
harassed by a stranger or a friend online, tell an adult you trust immediately.
It is never a good idea to respond. Responding is only likely to make things
worse, and might result in you saying something you wish you hadn't.
Take a breather to avoid
"flaming." File this one under "nothing's
temporary online": If you get the urge to fire off an angry IM or comment
on a message board or blog, it's a good idea to wait a few minutes, calm down,
and remember that the comments may stay up (with your screen name right there)
long after you've regained your temper and maybe changed your mind.
You might feel anonymous or
disguised in chat rooms, social networks, or other sites — and this could lead
to mean, insulting, or abusive comments toward someone else, or sharing
pictures and comments you may later regret. We've all heard of cyberbullying,
but most people think online bullying is something people do intentionally. But
sharing stuff or dropping random comments when we're not face to face with
someone can hurt just as much, if not more. And it can damage how others see
you if they find out. A good rule to remember: if you wouldn't say it, show it,
or do it in person, you probably don't want to online.
Learn about copyrights. It's a good idea to learn about copyright laws and make
sure you don't post, share, or distribute copyrighted images, songs, or files.
Sure, you want to share them, but you don't want to accidentally do anything
illegal that can come back to haunt you later.
Check yourself. Chances are, you've already checked your "digital
footprint" — nearly half of all online users do. Try typing your screen
name or email address into a search engine and see what comes up. That's one
way to get a sense of what others see as your online identity.
Take it offline. In general, if you have questions about the trail you're
leaving online, don't be afraid to ask a trusted adult. Sure, you might know
more about the online world than a lot of adults do, but they have life
experience that can help.
Your online identity and reputation
are shaped in much the same way as your real-life identity, except that when
you're online you don't always get a chance to explain your tone or what you
mean. Thinking before you post and
following the same rules for responsible behavior online as you do offline can
help you avoid leaving an online identity trail you regret.
No comments:
Post a Comment