Most social media sites have privacy policies and settings, but they are all different. So, today we will discuss the precautions while using social networking sites.
Some sites are completely public, meaning anyone can read or browse them at any time. Other sites allow you to control access to your information.
Here are some tips to stay safe on social media.
How to Stay Safe on Social Media
The following suggestions will help you and you to protect your personal information online:
- Read the privacy policies of websites before submitting personal information.
- Check your security settings to make sure you don’t share more information than you’d like (e.g., date of birth or whereabouts).
- If you are using a GPS-enabled smartphone or tablet, your messages may be “Geotagged“. Geotagging indicates the exact location where the photo was taken.
- Make sure GPS (Global Positioning System) is disabled on your devices.
- Whenever possible, encourage yourself to use an avatar instead of their name.
- Remind always, not to share your passwords, even with your friends.
- You should not accept friend requests from people you do not know in real life or establish an active connection with them.
- You must aware that posts on Social Media pages are NOT temporary like they are supposed to be. It is possible to take a screenshot of a photo before it disappears.
- Deliveready LLP suggests protecting and respecting your friends’ personal information. You can ask permission before posting a friend’s photo or video.
- You should also know what your friends are posting about you and your activity.
What is Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying refers to acts of intimidation online. Most online social interactions are positive, but some people use technology as a mode of bullying and harassment.
Cyberbullying takes many forms: sending mean messages via email or posting those messages in apps like Facebook, sharing photos and videos without permission, or excluding someone who would like to be part of a group.
Try to talk to your kids about cyberbullying. If it’s not very serious, suggest that they ignore it.
If the bullying persists, is violent or sexually explicit, or scares your children, encourage them to tell you or a trusted adult.
What is Sexting
Sexting involves sending sexually explicit messages, photos or videos on social media using smartphones or apps.
These texts can also be sent by e-mail. Ask your teenagers what they know about sexting. Tell them about the dangers of sexting.
Remind them that others will easily be able to share texts or photos transmitted online.
Remind them that nothing ever really disappears from the virtual world. Friends, enemies, parents, teachers, coaches, strangers and potential employers can find old messages.
Even though most dating sites (like Tinder, Grindr, Bumble) are for people over 18, most teens are familiar with them.
In online dating services, users can create a profile and upload personal information and photos.
Users may be encouraged by others to share inappropriate images. These were some precautions about how to Stay Safe on Social Media.
