Beware the Info in Your Social Network Profile

Online social networks have rapidly increased in popularity, especially over the past couple of years. 
Social networking websites are popular because they easily allow you to find, connect with, and
cultivate friendships with other internet users, often ones that share the same interests as you.
To find those individuals, you must join a social networking website and create a profile.  It is
often advertised that your social networking profile is the key to finding friends online.

As formerly stated, your social networking profile is essential when it comes to meeting other
internet users. This is because, in most cases, internet users are looking to chat with someone
who has the same goals, views, beliefs, and interests as they do.  Without a personal profile, it
would be perplexing or impossible to tell what your interests are. That is why social networking
profiles are not only important, but they are necessary.

When it comes to social networking profiles, a lot of focus has been placed on what you should
include in your profile or display on your profile page. It has been said that pictures produce the
best responses, as well as detailed personal information.  Although a picture and detailed
personal information may help to increase your page views, you may be getting views that
you do not necessarily want.  Despite what you may believe, most social networking websites
do not have restrictions on who can view your personal profile.  In fact, internet users, even
those that do not belong to your online community, can easily see profile.

Since anyone and I mean plainly anyone, can see your social networking profile, on most social
networking websites, you are advised to be cautious. Principally, this means that instead of
focusing on what you should put in your online profile, you should be focusing on what not to
put.  This is one the best ways to protect your safety, both on and offline. 

As earlier mentioned, pictures are often recommended with social networking websites. If you
are interested in positing a personal picture of yourself in your online profile you can do so, but
you are advised to carefully choose that picture.  While you will want to look your best, you are
advised against posting a picture that is too revealing or seductive in nature.  Most internet
users can look at these types of pictures without feeling a thing, but for others these types of
pictures spell danger.

If you make the decision to post a picture of yourself in your social networking website profile,
you need to be careful about the rest of the information that you post.  Although you may not
necessarily think about it, a picture is just a picture, but combined with your name and address,
it could be a deadly combination. You are advised to only post your first name in your profile.
This will make it more difficult for anyone to try and contact you off of the internet. 

It is also advised that you carefully choose your location.  A large number of online social
networking sites require that you select a city, as well as a state. If it is allowed, you may only
wish to list your state and not the city.  If you are required to list the city and the state that you
live in, you may want to think about using a nearby city or town, especially if you live in a small
town. If an internet predator wanted to contact you and you lived in a small town, it could be fairly
easy for them to find you. That is why it is advised that you carefully select the answer to the
location question. 

In addition to the above precautionary measures, it is advised that you do not post detailed
information on your children, the location of your home, your income, or when you will be
leaving for vacation.  By keeping these and the above mentioned points in mind, you should
be able to enjoy online social networking without having to always look behind your back.

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