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Get Street Smart about Social Networking

Learn to recognize what’s revealed about you by the information you post and you'll reduce your risk of identity theft. No online profile is 100% safe, but you can take steps to protect yourself and the information you chose to share.

Use privacy controls, but don't rely solely on them.

Most social networking sites offer some form of privacy controls, allowing members to limit access to parts of their profile. Unfortunately, scammers are busy dreaming up new ways to get around these settings. So it’s a good idea to construct your online profile as if it were open to the general public, even if you chose strict privacy controls.

Think before you post.

Be aware of what you post and what this information reveals about you. Posting your last name, birth date, email, phone number, home address, etc. is a bad idea even if you set this information to private. There is no guarantee it won't fall into the wrong hands.

You also have to think about how the information on your profile interacts to complete your online identity. For example, if your page contains your birthday in one place and your age in another, then anyone looking at your page can figure out your birth date.

Pay attention to what your friends post.

Let your friends know what type of information is okay to post on your message board and what isn't. Again, personal information like your school, address, email, screen name, etc. should not be put up online. Even a "Happy Birthday!" or "Go Panthers!" posting could, in combination with other bits of your profile, reveal more than you realize. Regularly delete any parts of your profile that give away more than you'd like revealed.

Check your site’s privacy policy.

It explains how the site owners and administrators are using your personal information. If you aren't satisfied with the way your information will be handled, take your business elsewhere, and invite your friends along with you. There are plenty of social networking sites out there. Take the opportunity to choose a site whose privacy policy, privacy controls and overall structure best fit your needs.