How to skip gleefully across the sun-dappled meadow of the web without a horrid perv trying to steal your flowers
(Or, How to be safe on social networking sites)
Top Er, Seven Tips >>>
1. Don't make your profile picture too sexy. If you'd be embarrassed for your mum to see it, don't post it. It could encourage the, ahem, wrong sort of attention (hello pervs!).
2. And don't include pics of you or your friends wearing school uniform. It's an easy way for dodgy types to work out where to find you.
3. Don't post your phone number or email address on your space. Your friends already have 'em, and others can message you privately via MySpace or Bebo.
4. Same goes for giving too much away in your blog. Don't reveal details of where you live or where you go out (eg, "Party at Beth's house" is fine, "Party at 12 Smith Street, 7pm, Saturday" is asking for gatecrashers).
5. Adjust your account settings so only approved friends can instant message you (new people can send you friend-requests and message you, but won't be able to bug you via IM).
6. Tick the "no pic forwarding' option on your MySpace settings page, so random people can't send your pics on to other random people.
7. And finally, go to www.thinkuknow.co.uk for more info, cos we basically nicked all this from them ; )
Further help and advice
• bbc.co.uk/chatguide (or call 0800 1111)
• childline.org.uk
• kidscape.org.uk
• antibullying.net
Disclaimer: the BBC can't be held responsible for the content of external websites.
Pictures posed by models.
