For adults, online privacy usually isn’t much of an issue, except when it comes to financial matters. Who would want his credit card info or bank statement stolen, right? And sometimes, having your identity available online can help, especially if you use the Internet to market your business or services.
But with kids, having their identities publicly available online can be dangerous, as we discussed before. Here are a few ways to make sure your child is practicing good privacy online. Of course, these could also apply to you!
Don’t post your home address and telephone numbers. This is the easiest way that bad people can find you.
Don’t post the name of your school or your exact town or vicinity. Even if people don’t find your exact home address, they can still do some research, and your school and town would be a good place to start.
Use nicknames when blogging. When writing about people or yourself, it’s good to use pseudonyms instead of real names. And make sure that these nicknames are not easily identifiable or associated with the real identity of a person.
Don’t post photos for public consumption. It’s best if you keep your pictures viewable only by people whom you personally know. Many photo-sharing websites have this feature.
Don’t write too detailed information on your online journal. Strangers can use these information to make you feel as if they know you. If you’re writing a public blog, then be sure you do not reveal too much.
Respect the privacy of your friends. Don’t just make sure your privacy is protected. Also do the same for your friends. Do not have your friends real names, addresses and other details publicly available.
The best advice would be to consult with a parent knowledgeable in online privacy and security, when in doubt
Originally posted on February 13, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
