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Social networking has become a very important aspect of many people’s lives and we don’t always realise how much influence and impact it can have on us. Numerous websites offer a variety of online facilities for social networking such as Facebook and MySpace. The Internet has become a meeting place for people from all over the world. Social networking sites enable us to make friend on a global scale, to find products or services, to share our lives with others, to advertise our skill and even to find our life partner.

 

Among the various online social communities, the younger generation are attracted to those with features such as online dating, gaming, sports groups and the like. Other online communities include business communities, parent's communities, medical communities and professional communities. These communities form to allow people with similar interests to share their time, knowledge and experience in one place online.

 

Many social networking sites offer the chance to blog and chat online. Blogging can be used for expressing our ideas, views, opinions and experiences. Chatting gives us a chance to have conversations with people all over the world – even if you can’t see the person you’re chatting with.

 

But even with so many possibilities, social networking websites do have risks. Often people don’t know the person they are communicating with and they can’t verify the other person's identity online. This is a serious threat to your security if dishonest people try to take advantage of their anonymity. People may unwittingly be breaking the law or associating with extremists or terrorists.

 

So how can you protect yourself from these ever present risks?

• Only register on social networking websites that moderate user activity on a regular basis.
• Never reveal or share any sensitive information with people you don’t know such as your telephone numbers, addresses, etc.
• Don’t send photographs of any king to strangers you met online.
• If you intend to meet someone one the net in person, always choose a public place with lots of people such as a coffee shop in a mall or a bar.
• If you sense anything odd about a person, whether they have fanatic ideas, an extremely bigoted perspective or seem very violent then it is important to stop associating and communicating with that person as soon as possible. If it is possible, report the person to the moderators of the social network with your concerns.

Remember that social networking websites can be fun and useful as long as you are aware of who you are associating with and what you are doing. As with many website on the Internet, social networking sites are only as safe as you make them. If you use them with care and responsibility you shouldn’t have any trouble.

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