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         What Youngsters Should Remember When Social Networking Online

Websites, blogs, forums, instant messaging and social networking sites have provided open and free social places in cyberspace, and it is very easy and common to make new friends online.  However, predators and criminals use these very same methods to identify and target potential victims.  Teenagers and young people should bear in mind that that the strangers they encounter online could have very different intentions to their own, and may not always be whom or what they seem.

Recently, some teenage girls have been tempted into compensated dating as a means to make money.  They reach out for potential customers, often through internet blogs and instant messaging.  This situation has brought many social problems, but more importantly these teenagers are gambling their personal safety with complete strangers who may be actively targeting lone and vulnerable girls or seeking to lure girls into prostitution.  Many times such risky encounters have resulted in criminal intimidation, physical and sexual assault, rape, robbery and in one unfortunate case murder of the girl concerned. 

What Youngsters Should Remember When Social Networking Online

    1. Make sure the website is reliable by checking its terms and conditions of service. Check if there is someone you can contact for advice

    2. Do not respond to bullying, abusive, hateful or demeaning messages.  Bring them to the attention of the website moderator or Police in extreme circumstances

    3. Do not disclose your personal information such as real name, address or telephone number to others

    4. Do not reveal too much in your online chat. Online predators can piece together different parts of your conversation to identify you or your whereabouts

    5. Do not rely on a person’s photograph, online persona or believe everything people write, as it may be completely false. Older men often pose as teenage girls to befriend other girls before trying to sexually exploit them

    6. If you call someone you have met through the site, block your number by dialling 133 first

    7. It is best to keep online friends just that. Be very wary of meeting online acquaintances in person.

    8. If you must meet up, make sure it is in a public place and at least one reliable person knows when and where you are meeting. Go with a friend, if possible. Take such friendships slowly, until you have got to know that person better.

    9. Keep a record of your online conversations. This will ensure you have evidence if you run into problems with them later.