Socializing Safely Online

The new todaysthv.com allows you to express yourself, and share ideas and interests. Just remember that following a few precautions will go a long way to protect your privacy and safety.

• Think about how different sites work before deciding to join a site. Some sites will allow only a defined community of users to access posted content; others allow anyone and everyone to view postings. Here at Todaysthv.com we allow you to make your information public or private.
  
• Think about keeping some control over the information you post. Consider restricting access to your page to a select group of people, for example, your friends, your club, your team, your community groups, or your family.
  
• Keep your information to yourself. Don't post your full name, Social Security number, address, phone number, or bank and credit card account numbers and don't post other people's information, either.
  
  Be cautious about posting information that could be used to identify you or locate you offline. This could include the name of your school, sports team, clubs, and where you work or hang out.
  
• Make sure your screen name doesn't say too much about you. Don't use your name, your age, or your hometown. Even if you think your screen name makes you anonymous, it doesn't take a genius to combine clues to figure out who you are and where you can be found.
  
• Post only information that you are comfortable with others seeing and knowing about you.
  
• Remember that once you post information online, you can't take it back. Even if you delete the information from a site, older versions exist on other people's computers.
  
• Flirting with strangers online could have serious consequences. Because some people lie about who they really are, you never really know who you're dealing with.
  
• Be wary if a new online friend wants to meet you in person. Before you decide to meet someone, do your research: Ask whether any of your friends know the person, and see what background you can dig up through online search engines. If you decide to meet them, be smart about it: Meet in a public place, during the day, with friends you trust. As an extra precaution, bring a friend along for the next few get-togethers.
  
• Trust your gut if you have suspicions. If you feel threatened by someone or uncomfortable because of something online, report it to Today's THV. You could end up preventing someone else from becoming a victim.