Getting the Most

from Social

Networks and

Blogging

T

he Internet provides rich opportunities for

making new friends, getting in touch with

old friends, finding romance, and sharing

interests with others... but there are some

risks to think about.

When you meet a person offline, you have

visual clues as to her age, gender, and general

demeanor. Online, you have to find new ways to

assess social contacts, and you have to be cau-

tious about how much you expose about your-

self before you’re sure who you’re dealing with.

Whether you’re posting a blog(online journal)
on a social networking site(which is a category
of Web site where people share their thoughts,
images, or videos) or using a dating site, you
may encounter risks from individual predators
who want to take advantage of your emotions
or steal your money. You might also unwit-
tingly provide information to companies who
want to mine your data. They might use this
data for marketing campaigns directed at you
and/or sell your data to others.

8

In this chapter...

➟Overview of Collaborative

and Social Networking

Sites ................................164

➟Tips for Safe Blogging ........166

➟Sign Up for a Social

Networking Service ..........170

➟Spam and Other Malware

on Blogs and Social

Networks ..........................174

➟Understand Site Privacy

Settings ............................174

➟Meet Someone Safely

Offline..............................176

➟Online Quizzes and

Surveys ............................176

➟Report Abuse ....................178

➟

Chapter