How to Stay Safe on MySpace

Every day, thousands of people join sites like MySpace to connect with friends and family members. MySpace can be a great way to gossip and stay connected, but it can also be a breeding ground for trouble. The trick is to understand how social networking sites work so that you can stay safe on MySpace. Keep reading to find out how to protect yourself against online predators. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Keep your identity a secret. When setting up your profile, don't use your real name or give out any specific details about your life. This includes addresses, phone numbers, schools or places of employment. All it takes is a well-targeted Internet search, and predators can know all sorts of things about you.
2. Set your preferences to Private. MySpace gives you the option to make your profile un-viewable to anyone who isn't on your friends list. This is an easy way to stay safe online.
3. Be afraid of strangers. One of the easiest ways to stay safe on MySpace is to only befriend people you know in real life. If someone you don't know sends you a friend request, simply click the Delete button.
4. Block questionable material. If someone starts sending you messages that are unwelcome, utilize the Block feature. You won't have to worry about them again.
5. Be mindful of what you say in comments and in messages. While your page may be set to private, your friends' pages may not be. So be careful what you say in their comment boxes. If you leave someone a comment with your number or a specific location to meet up at, this is easy prey for predators.