The following tips are provided by Parry Aftab of WiredSafety.org
Everyone is watching – protect your info!
- Put everything behind password-protected walls, where only friends can see (e.g. use Xanga Locks)
- Protect your password and make sure you really know who someone is before you allow them onto your friends or protected list (that cute 14-year old boy may not be cute, may not be 14… and may not even be a boy! You never know!)
- Blur or morph your photos a bit so they won’t be abused by cyberbullies or predators
- Don’t post anything your parents, principal or a predator couldn’t see
This stuff goes on your permanent record
- What you post online stays online – forever!!!! So think before you click!
- Don’t do or say anything online you wouldn’t say offline
- And, unless you’re prepared to attach your Xanga Site to your college/job/internship/scholarship or sports team application… don’t post it publicly!
Look out for your friends, too!
- Protect your privacy and your friends’ privacy too… get their okay before posting something about them or their pic online
- Check what your friends are posting/saying about you. Even if you are careful, they may not be and may be putting you at risk
Parry Aftab is a security, privacy and cyberspace lawyer, as well as an author and child advocate. She is a worldwide leader in the area of online safety and parent and child Internet education. As Executive Director of WiredSafety.org, the largest online safety and educational program in cyberspace, Ms. Aftab helps prevent and investigate cybercrime.
Copyright 2006 Parry Aftab, all rights reserved, duplication requests to Parry@Aftab.com
