“Your Online Footprint”

What is Facebook?

• Facebook is an online social networking site in which young adults can have discussions, connect with friends, share interests, play games, and also organize social events

• Over 500 million people use facebook

• 46.4% of users are between the ages of 13-25

Great Invention or bad news?

• For the most part Facebook provides a fun and safe way for users of all ages to communicate with their pals

• However, kids are at the greatest risk for falling victim to the dangers of Facebook which include harassment from others, online predators, and even identity theft

Nothing online is truly private…

• Unless you have adjusted your privacy settings many adults and strangers can

see what you’re doing, posting, and where you’re at while using Facebook; even after

adjusting your privacy settings your account can still be hacked into for individuals to access your personal

information

How can I use Facebook Safely?

• The internet counts…If it illegal in person it is illegal online; even if you’re only joking

• Police monitor facebook daily seeking out criminal activity and arresting guilty individuals

• Don’t let your emotions rule your typing; never respond to a posting while angry or hurt, even if you were originally the victim

• Beware of 3rd party applications such as games as they have different terms of agreement then what facebook may require (Farmville, tapfish, etc)

• If someone is harassing you block them or delete them from your friends list

Safety Advice Continued

• Never pose as someone else online, that is considered identity theft and is illegal

• Don’t respond the online bullying, rather save the message, tell an adult and report the harassment to facebook and or your school administration

• Online friends are strangers no matter how long you have “known” them

• Change your privacy settings to make sure only friends can see your information and profile

• Never open a link posted to your wall as it may contain a virus or lead to a inappropriate site

Facebook Trouble

• The effects of cyber bullying have unfortunately lead to some young adults committing suicide, having poor self esteem, and many unnecessary fights

• 32% of teens have experienced some sort of harassment via the internet; including having private information being forwarded without permission, threatening messages, and embarrassing photos being posted without their consent

Cyber Bullying continued

• Children and teens are “significantly willing to go farther” and to type things on facebook they would never say in person

• Often children believe online statements “don’t count” because they are not being said to someone’s face

Build a respectable online footprint

• Things you post today may hurt your reputation in the future, keep you from getting into colleges, and even prevent you from getting a job

• Only post age appropriate photos, wall posts, and stay away from “over sharing” of personal information

Follow the golden rule

• If you don’t have something nice to say don’t say it at all!

• If you wouldn’t want your parent to read what you posted, it likely wasn’t worth posting

• Use Facebook responsibly and it can be a great tool for future opportunities and networking