Pretty much everyone has either a MySpace.com or Facebook.com account, unless you are one of those “super cool” kids who is totally above listing the things you like.
Let’s face it, it’s a sketchy world out there and if we consider Facebook.com and MySpace.com a microcosm of the world then it only makes sense that these sites have sketchy people too.
(Heres a little equation if you didn’t get that: The world = a lot of sketchy people — about 1 billion people or probably around 20 percent; social networking sites = smaller amount of sketchy people, but still around 20 percent).
So what do you do to keep yourself safe? Do you get off these sites and risk being uncool and your friends not knowing you just saw Dukes of Hazzard, and it is totally one of your favorite movies now?
We didn’t think so!
So here’s what we think are some helpful tips to keep yourself safe on MySpace.com and Facebook.com:
1. Don’t put your cell phone number and your address on there — Who knows what serial killers who also enjoy water skiing are on there looking for a Silence of the Lambs-style friend/addition to their person coat.
2. Don’t put pictures on there you don’t want everyone to see — a great gauge for this is to pretend your grandma gets on MySpace.com once a week because she is hip and likes to check out emo bands. Do you really want her to see you chugging a beer while shaking your Laffy Taffy in the air in the sweater she knitted for you last Christmas?
3. Don’t just accept everyone who asks be your friend — when did we become so unselective of our friends? Have a screening process. If you don’t know them, don’t let them be your friends. It may be a weird ex-boyfriend or girlfriend checking to see if you are in a relationship.
Now that we have those things out of the way, remember these sites can be really good for meeting new people, but they are also filled with people who may try to take advantage of you — or they might just be really old. There is no guarantee sexystud22 on MySpace.com is really a sexy 22-year-old stud or hot chick.
