The Internet and Your Identity

With social networking sites more popular and available than ever before, teenagers are faced with a big responsibility. Sites like Facebook and MySpace can help you connect with friends, but they can also cause problems for you in the future. Here are some tips on how to protect your identity online:

Keep it Private. Keep your profile set to “private”. That way, you have control over who is viewing your information because you can never be too sure who they are sharing that information with. When sharing information, keep it basic — the more you share, the more you open yourself up.

Nothing is Temporary. Assume whatever you post online will be there forever. In cyberspace, everything is permanent. So be sure about the photos, videos and
information you post on your profile. You don’t want inappropriate information to stand in the way of sports, activities, college admission or a future job. A good rule
of thumb is to ask yourself if you would show the photo or video to your grandmother. If not, don’t post it.

Be Camera Shy. Even if you are very careful about what you post on your site, keep in mind that your friends and classmates also have sites. They may snap photos of
you and post them on their sites, for everyone to see. Be aware of your surroundings and duck out of any photos you don’t want to be in. It may seem like an awkward
thing to do, but you really are protecting yourself.

Switch it Up. It is very important that you protect yourself from people who could steal your identity and spread misinformation. So change your passwords often.

Mind Your Manners. Protecting your identity on the Internet means more than just making sure your own accounts are safe. Remember that when you post comments on other profiles, you are leaving a “fingerprint” for everyone to see. So don’t leave inappropriate or vulgar comments on any sites.