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Keeping safe on social networking sites like HUV Social, Facebook, Bebo and MySpace

Getting Started: Your Profile

Setting up your profile should be fun but there are a few things you should think about.

What you are saying

Your blog, profile and your comments can be seen by anyone who has access to the internet. Do you want everyone reading about the fight you had with your best mate? Or the confessions you thought were private on MSN?

Pics of yourself

Who do you want to see you? How do you want to be seen? Would you be ok with your grandma checking out the pics of you at that party?

Pics of your friends

Asking permission before you post a pic of someone else is the decent thing to do.

Ready to go: Making & Meeting Friends

Making friends

Making friends and hanging out with them online is the whole point of social networking. Here are some tips on how to do this as safely as possible.

1. Remember that people online can experiment with different personalities and can tell you lies about who they are, where they are and what they want - so just think about whether you really know who you are making friends with.

2. It's smart to be careful with the personal stuff you tell your online friends.

3. Don't add just anybody as a friend. Remember: quality not quantity.

4. Don't feel pressured into responding to comments posted on your page. You wouldn't necessarily talk to just anyone in the street so why talk to them online?

5. If someone is creeping you out, don't talk to them. Block them and report them.

What about meeting face to face?

You should always use your common sense, just like you would when you meet strangers in offline situations.

1. Tell your caregiver and your friends that you'd like to meet someone from online.

Meeting someone in person is taking a chance - so people who care about you need to know about it. Your online friend should totally understand you being careful; if they are for real they are more likely to want to be careful too!

2. Be careful about giving out your personal details before you meet them.

3. Stage your first meeting in a public place during the day and bring a caregiver or some friends.

4. During the meeting, be careful about giving out too much personal information.

5. After the meeting, think about how it went and what your intuition tells you about the person and the way they handled themselves. If you have doubts, don't see them again.