The fun part of online social media is the networking and sharing. The dangerous part of online social media can also be the networking and sharing.
To get a sense of why people enjoy online social networking, visit Twitter or Facebook during a playoff game or during a live broadcast of a show like “American Idol.”
Thousands of people might be sitting alone on their couches watching the game or the show, but they are interacting with people – cheering on their favorite person or trash-talking an opponent.
Personal information is exchanged as if the conversation were happening in a private space. The fact is, these people are speaking publicly.
Do’s and Don’ts of Social Media
Do take advantage of privacy settings available and encourage your friends to do the same. Even if you only share information with designated people using privacy settings, others can neglect to do the same and everyone they are connected to can see information about you.
Don’t announce your vacation plans. It may not be only your closest friends who can see when you are leaving and when you will return. Wait until you come home to share your vacation information online.
Don’t stay logged into Facebook while you are visiting other websites. Any time you browse the internet without first logging out of Facebook, other sites can gain access to any profile information you’ve marked as public information.
Do resist the urge to share identifying information on your social media profiles. On Facebook, for example, you can include your full home address, phone number, date of birth and other personal information. This gives criminals enough details about you to steal your identity or worse, if you give this info and share your vacation plans, they not only know where you live, they also know exactly when your home will be empty!
Do ask questions before clicking on links. Malware is common on status updates on social media sites. If you are uncertain about a link posted, ask the sender first.
Courtesy of Safety Daily News
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