Hey there Fab Gals!
So today I was watching the news, and I thought of you. They were covering the case of Megan Meier, who committed suicide after getting lots of nasty notes from a Myspace "friend," who she thought was 16 year-old Josh Evans but was actually a 49 year-old woman, her neighbor. It was such a sad, horrible thing to happen to a Fab Gal, but we can take something from this tragedy.
I don't want to sound like a mom, saying that Facebook and Myspace and all the social networking sites are ruing our generation. In fact, I think that these sites are great for talking to friends, sharing photos, and of course, keeping up with gossip (c'mon, you know you do it too). But you have to be careful; the web is NOT a good place meet someone new. What we love so much about these sites is the control we have over how people see us, but people can abuse that power, as in Megan's case. You, Fab Gal, do not need to be a victim, as long as you stay smart.
Here are the top FG tips for social networking safety:
- Don't add people you don't know - It might seem self-explanatory, but a lot of gals ignore this rule. The Internet might seem safe, but you have no clue what is really happening on the other side. Your mama said don't talk to strangers, and the Internet is no different.
- Watch what you put on your profile - Do not put any personal contact info, like your address or cell phone number on your page, and set your profile to private (each site will allow you to change security settings). And as a general guideline, don't put anything up you wouldn't want your grandma to see.
- Don't take nasty messages - If someone starts to harass you online, stop communications right away. Myspace, as well as the other sites, will let you block or report a cyber-bully.
- Listen to your intuition - If something or someone makes you feel uncomfortable, don't hesitate. Your intuition is usually right, so don't ignore it.
Hopefully that helps set you on the right path. Learn more about cyberbullying at STOP Cyberbullying. If you are a myYearbook user, sign the Megan Pledge to prevent cyberbullying. How about you, FG? Do you use Myspace, Facebook, myYearbook, or another social networking site? Leave a comment to let me know what you think about them. xoxo The Fab Gal FG Update: Check out the new poll feature located on the side! Labels: cyberbullying, Facebook, internet safety, Myspace, myYearbook, social networking sites |
