Potential Dangers of Social Media to Individuals Including Personal Safety

   Most children and young people use the social media the right way. However, sometimes they behave in ways that may place them at risk. Some risks do not necessarily arise from the technology itself but as a result from offline behaviours that are extended into the online world, and vice versa.

Ø  Potential risks can include, but are not limited to:

Ø  Bullying by people they call ‘friends’ on media platform

Ø  Posting personal information that can identify and locate a child offline

Ø  Sexual grooming, attracting and abuse contact with strangers

Ø  Contact with inappropriate content

Ø  Exposure to racist or hate material

Ø  Encouragement of violent behaviour

Ø  Glorifying activities such as drug taking or excessive drinking

Ø  Physical harm to young people in making video content, such as imitating stunts and risk taking activities

Ø  Leaving and running away from home as a result of contacts made online. 

 

HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR YOU TO BE SAFER A BIT
WHEN USING SOCIAL MEDIA:

 

NEVER SHARE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATIONS

   That can save you from identity theft and even protect your physical safety. Never share your social security number (including last 4 digits), your birth date, home address or home phone. You should protect all of your passwords, PIN numbers, bank account and credit card information.

   But I advise you to never share the state where you were born as this information can be used to obtain your social security number and other identity information. Facebook, for example, allows you to restrict who can see your birthday or place you were born. But not every site has these options. In those cases avoid the problem altogether by not entering information you don’t want to share.

CUSTOMIZE PRIVACY OPTIONS

   You have a control to set your own privacy settings. Don’t use default settings the site gives you. Check out the settings, configuration and privacy sections to see what options you have to limit who can see numerous aspects of your personal information. Facebook probably has some of the broadest privacy options, giving you control where no one, friends, friends and networks, or everyone can see basic info, personal info, photos, friends and postings.

BE SUSPICIOS – DON’T TRUST EVERYONE

   There are many fake accounts on social media that some people use just for fun but many of them are used to get as many information they can to use it against you.

DON’T STATE YOUR PLANS

   You wouldn’t put a note on your front door stating, “Won’t be home for the weekend… Back on Monday.”

GOOD PRATCICE TO “GOOGLE” YOURSELF

    Type in your name in Google search engine to see what information’s are available for everyone to see and to check if there are not any fake profiles on social media platforms acting in your name and using your details

DON’T BRAKE YOUR’S COMPANY SOCIAL NETWORKING POLICY

    Make sure you never share any information that are related to your work place including confidential or customer information. Don’t make any inappropriate comments about your company or your work colleagues as that may result in reprimand or dismissal

CHECK HOW SITES OR MEDIA PLATFORMS CAN USE YOR INFORMATION

    As social networks are mostly free they make money by running advertising to you and that’s why they collect all the information about you.