DCU - Members' Monthly

Are Social Media Practices Endangering Your Privacy and Your Kids' Privacy?
By Remar Sutton, DCU StreetWise National Spokesperson

New developments or types of social media launch almost daily. Because such internet-based applications or programs enable individuals and groups to connect easily and openly to share all types of information, you or your children may be putting private information at risk. Often you may not be aware just how much or what information you are sharing.

Monitor Your Facebook Privacy Settings
Facebook's recent introduction of its new Instant Personalization and Open Graph features offers a case in point. Since they are the largest social network with more than 400 million users, there's a good chance you or your kids are members. With Open Graph (which replaces Facebook Connect), Facebook has expanded its use of the "Like" button/feature to "partner" third party web sites. There are about 30 partner companies to start.

You can opt out of some or all of this sharing by selecting appropriate privacy settings within Facebook. You can opt out of sharing case-by-case on individual partner sites by responding to the banner that appears the first time you visit a partner site such as Pandora or a news outlet like CNN. But since partners will probably be growing rapidly, we recommend that you review your overall privacy settings. You can turn off "instant personalization" but you'll have to dig down into Facebook's privacy setting pages. Under "Account" go to "Applications and Websites" and there to "Instant personalization." You may also wish to limit what friends can share about you on the same "Applications and Websites" page.

While you are checking your privacy settings, we suggest that you monitor other social networking sites you may belong to – MySpace, LinkedIn, Google Buzz, Twitter, and Flickr, for example.

Photo and Video Sharing
All the world's a stage these days! Cellphone cameras and videocams are nearly everywhere. Snap a photo or film a little video and post it to your blog or social network page or upload it to YouTube. You might get a viral hit. Where's the harm? With a little precaution and judicial personal censorship, probably none. But it's important to remember a few things about images on the internet and to help children remember them, too.

First, once an image is posted to the internet it's public forever. Even if you take it down from sites you control, others may have copied it and it may be archived. Photos that seem innocuous to you and your friends may have unforeseen consequences. In one recent case, a posted photo of a young teacher on an island vacation enjoying an adult beverage with friends (nothing wild at all) landed that same teacher in trouble with the school board. That may not be fair, you think, but it's fact.

Second, the background of a photo or video may reveal more than you want known. Does it give away your home or school location? Together with your name and face that could give a thief or predator enough information to identify you or your teen.

StreetWise Summary
Monitor your privacy settings. But adopt this precautionary stance: If I post it, it's public and out of my control.

Social networking and other social media can make it easier to connect with several friends and acquaintances. Given the varied privacy protocols and approaches and the rapidly expanding number of sites, services and applications, personal vigilance is the watchword. Limit personal information you post, monitor privacy settings on all sites, and help your kids do the same. Our consumer education team enjoys using social media, but we find it really helps to adopt the attitude that if we post it, it's public and act accordingly. You and your family might consider the same approach.

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