How to Prevent Social Network Abuse
Social networking sites have become a popular method of maintaining online contact with family, making new friends and networking. Unfortunately, unscrupulous individuals use social networking sites for identity theft, phishing, cyber-bullying and soliciting minors. Here are some strategies for preventing social networking abuse.
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Instructions
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Educate yourself on how hackers and cyber-criminals use social networking sites to trick you into revealing personal information and visiting fraudulent websites (see Resources).
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Research online resources and learning tools for educators, parents, seniors, kids and law enforcement officials on staying safe online (see Resources).
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Read the terms of service and privacy policies of any social networking sites you join. This allows you to stay informed of the sites responsibilities to protect your privacy and procedures for handling abuse.
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Monitor what you say and do. Social networking sites are not as anonymous as the Internet may lull you into believing. Keep personal information such as your real name, age, work and school private to minimize abuse.
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Limit your profile to people you know. By setting your account to private, you're only interacting with individuals you already know in the real world.
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Report abuse using links offered on the site. Most sites allow you to click on a individuals profile or contact site administration to report abuse, spam and inappropriate behaviours.
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Tips & Warnings
Blocking or monitoring children's social networking usage prevents exposure to pornography, inappropriate language and child predators.
