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Last Comment: 08/24/10
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Teen girl playing tennis
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Take Control Of Your Online Reputation! By Anastasia Goodstein

 

Lately, lots of teens have been moving from MySpace to Facebook because they think it’s “more private.” The reality is that nothing is ever completely private on the internet. Since MySpace and Facebook are the most popular social networking sites with teens, you should understand each site’s history and privacy settings.

 

MySpace: A Place For Friends…and fans

Most of MySpace’s early users were musicians. They used the site as a way to connect with their fans, post new songs or send bulletins about upcoming shows. Because of this, MySpace always had a very self promotional vibe – it was a tool for artists to break through and be discovered. Teens began to join MySpace because their favorite artists and bands were there, and then discovered that they could use the same set of tools to socialize with their friends, usually the same friends they would see every day at school.

 

You are supposed to be 14-years-old to join MySpace, even though we all know how easy it is to lie about your age. The default setting for 14 and 15-year-olds on MySpace is private, meaning only your friends can see your profile. In 2006, MySpace decided that users whose ages are set over 18 could no longer add users whose ages are set from 14 to 15 years as friends unless they already know the user's full name or email address.

 

Facebook: Campus beginnings

A Harvard student originally started Facebook for Harvard students. The idea was that students would use these social networking tools to get to know who was going to be at school in the fall. It was understood that you would always see your Facebook friends in person in the dorm or at the cafeteria. It became so popular that it spread to the other Ivy League schools and then to all colleges. Pretty soon most U.S. college students had a Facebook profile. Facebook is now open to everyone, and the fastest growing group of users on the site are over the age of 40!

 

You have to be 13 years old to join Facebook. The default privacy setting is private, just for friends you accept. But there are loopholes! If you join a network on Facebook, everyone in that network can see your profile, friend or not, unless you go in and change your privacy settings. For example, say you might apply to a specific college so you join that network to meet students and alumni of that school. Guess what? Admissions officers in that network can now see your profile!

 

Here are some tips to help you take control of your privacy online:

 

Nothing is every truly private online. If you don’t want someone to find something out or something to get out, you shouldn’t be posting it online (this goes for text, images and video). Even if your profile is set to private and is just for your friends, friends can be fickle and betray you. It’s as simple as one friend reading something about a person and then telling that person resulting in major drama. Remember, anything you type or any photo you post can be easily copied and pasted.

 

Don’t share your passwords. Even with your BFFs. Like I said, friends can be fickle, boyfriends and girlfriends break up. And sometimes revenge is as easy as logging in as you and doing serious damage to your profile or your relationships.

 

Don’t rely on your default settings. Click on the privacy links on MySpace and/or Facebook, read every single option they give you and then make conscious decisions about what aspects of your profile you want to be private or public. There are tons of options on Facebook controlling your Newsfeed, photos, videos, Wall and more. Remember, companies often make your default settings opted in (the check box is checked to say yes!) for marketers to be able to use the information in your profile in order sell you products they think you might like or to receive email from the social networking site itself (the monthly MySpace newsletter). If you don’t want your information to be tracked or to receive these emails, you often have to go in and uncheck the boxes.

 

Be careful when you accept applications or “widgets.” These are all the rage on MySpace and Facebook – quizzes, horoscopes, Zombies, etc. They’re fun to add to your profile and send to others. Just make sure you are aware that when you sign up for these applications, you may be giving your information to another company that is not MySpace or Facebook. Look for those “checked in” checkboxes.

 

If you’re going to use these sites to socialize, just be aware that the internet is a virtual public place and that complete privacy is an illusion. Still, you can take an active role in managing your online reputation by controlling who sees what and by thinking about what you post before you hit publish.

 

Related Resources
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Girl Talk Last Comment: 08/24/10
Comments this Week: 0
Total Comments: 30
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Take Control Of Your Online Reputation! By Anastasia Goodstein - Comments 1-10 of 30
08/24/10

Take Control Of Your Online Reputation! By Anastasia Goodstein

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Lol, I am not allowed to have an FB, even though all my friends do(im 12) My bff Maddie thought u had to be 16 2 join, and some of my other friends are like 22 on FB EPIC FAIL!!
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08/23/10

Take Control Of Your Online Reputation! By Anastasia Goodstein

Recommend Comment

I tried it. It didnt work. :(
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08/17/10

Take Control Of Your Online Reputation! By Anastasia Goodstein

Recommend Comment

PLEASE DON’T READ THIS.YOU WILL BE
KISSED ON THE NEAREST FRIDAY BY THE
ONE YOU LOVE.NOw YOU’VE STARTED READING
THIS SO DON’T STOP.
THIS IS REALLY FREAKY!!!
1)say your name 10 times
2)say your mom’s name 5 times
3)say your crushes name 3 times
4)paste this on 4 other quizes.if you
do this your crush will kiss you on the
nearest friday. if you don’t do this after
reading tis you will get bad luck
send this this to 4 other quizzes in 143 minutes
when done press F6 and the name of your crush will
appear on the screen in big letters
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07/29/10

Take Control Of Your Online Reputation! By Anastasia Goodstein

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I am SO addicted to FB. It's kinda funny actually. I swear, I go on it like, every day for at least 2 hours. Is that awful? ... Probably. Do I care all that much? Nope. :P lolz
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07/19/10

Take Control Of Your Online Reputation! By Anastasia Goodstein

Recommend Comment

this is a true thing that happens! its not a chain letter! its kinda scary at first but it really works!! paste this message into 3 comments and press ALT F4 and your crushes name will appear on the screen!!!
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06/30/10

Take Control Of Your Online Reputation! By Anastasia Goodstein

Recommend Comment

this is a true thing that happens! its not a chain letter! its kinda scary at first but it really works!! paste this message into 3 comments and press ALT F4 and your crushes name will appear on the screen!!
Report Abuse Reply
06/14/10

Take Control Of Your Online Reputation! By Anastasia Goodstein

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SoulSister,

I don't think that ur dad is being fair when he's blocking ur facebook account, dad's are some times overprotective of their daugthers, but ur dad can't do that to u! I reccomend that u sit down & talk 2 ur dad, tell him that u SWEAR you'll be safe & if anything weird/bad happens that u'll tell him. If ur of the age requirements he shouldn't worry about u that much. One reccomendation, maybe don't put a profile pic up until u've gained ur dad's trust. Don't add anyone u don't know, don't put super personal info on facebook, & tell ur dad if anything weird starts happening!

Hope this helped u somewhat

-FarmGirl

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06/14/10

Take Control Of Your Online Reputation! By Anastasia Goodstein

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I have a facebook account & i totally like facebook over myspace because facebook is a little more safe and that there are games. But u dont ever get total privacy on the internet... It's horrible because there's so many scary ppl on the web, some lie about their age, their gender, their identity, EVERYTHING! so stay safe and here r some tips; (1) Don't EVER tell anyone your  name, phone number, who ur parents are, where u live, ur email, nothing! (2) Always be careful, for example, if someone on myspace asks 2 be ur friend but u have no idea who they are, dont add them! it's as simple as that! I've had plenty of friends who have been stalked on the internet & its not fun! (3) ALWAYS let an adult know if anything bad happens online, don't risk ur privacy, identity and safety!!!! I hope u r safe online & follow these tips!!
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06/04/10

Take Control Of Your Online Reputation! By Anastasia Goodstein

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I personally prefer Facebook because they have games and stuff, and you don't have to be friends with someone just because you like what they're saying.
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05/23/10

Take Control Of Your Online Reputation! By Anastasia Goodstein

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I have a facebook

and it's fun just ask if you can have it back
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