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Social networking sites
Have fun, stay safe
Social networking sites can be fun, interactive and a quick way to stay in touch with friends and family online.
Be careful what you put online
Review your privacy settings regularly - make sure only the people you want to know about you can read your profile and updates. Also, review where you're tagged in photos.
Be careful who you 'friend' online - some people may not be who they say they are, while others may say nasty or inappropriate things. Think twice before you allow someone to 'follow' you.
Don't give out personal details - for example, your date of birth or what school/college you go to. It's a good idea to put as little personal information as possible on social networking sites to avoid people knowing too much about you.
Think twice about the information you post online - for example, posting that you're off on holiday (and therefore your house may be empty) or that you have a brand new car. Other people could use this against you and you risk having your property stolen.
Carefully consider what photos you share online and what impression this gives (i.e. potential employers).
Facebook terms and conditions state you must be 13 years or older to have a Facebook page. However, it's easy for people to lie which also means you can never be sure who you’re talking to.
Privacy settings
Regularly review your privacy settings as Facebook continually add new functionality. Login, select 'Account' (top right) and choose 'Privacy settings'. It's a good idea to set your privacy so that only your real friends and family can view your profile.
Report it
Facebook now has ClickCEOP, an application (app for short) which you can install on your profile and use to report something you think is inappropriate on Facebook.
Bebo
To report inappropriate or undesirable content on Bebo, select the 'Report abuse' link located below your profile photo (top left). You can also report certain types of content i.e. photos, videos and widgets to Bebo by selecting the 'Report abuse' link below the specific item.
MySpace
On MySpace, select the 'Report abuse' link at the end of your profile page. To report inappropriate images, select the image and choose 'Report this image'. MySpace also has a dedicated email helpline for school employees at schoolcare@myspace.com
Video sharing sites (for example YouTube)
You should report inappropriate video content to the host website direct.
To report an inappripriate video on YouTube, create a free account, log in and then select the 'flag' link under the video. To report abuse, visit YouTube's Abuse and Policy Centre and choose the relevant option.
To report abuse or inappropriate content on Twitter:
- without needing to log in, visit 'Report a violation'.
- when you're logged in, select your profile name at the top right and then the 'Help' link from the drop down tab which appears. Select 'Report a violation'.
Find out more
For more advice on staying safe online, view our useful contacts page.