PROTECTING YOUR ONLINE IDENTITY

Ashley is a high school junior in Illinois. She’s very careful about the information, pictures, and comments she sends and posts — even though her profile is set to private. She knows that nothing is ever really private online.

“I know teens who have gotten kicked off their sports teams because of pictures and inappropriate material they have on their profiles,” she says.

Her advice is simple: “Be smart about what you put on the Internet, because you never know who is looking at what you have on there.”
From the first time you log on to a social networking site, pick a screen name for instant messaging (IM), or post to a blog on your favourite
band, you’re creating an online identity.

Your online identity may be different from your real-world identity — the way your friends, parents, and teachers think of you — and some parts of it may be entirely made up. Maybe you’re a little shy in real life, but online you’re a jokester and your avatar is a famous comedian. Maybe your classmates think of you as a soccer star, but online you indulge your passion for chess and environmentalism.

Playing around and trying on different characteristics are part of the fun of an online life. You can change your look or the way you act and present yourself to others, and you can learn more about things that interest you. And, just as in real life, you can take steps to help make sure you stay in control. It’s important you learn the rules so you can play safely online. First of all, you should stick to safer websites. You should also choose your username and password carefully so that it won’t be easy to hack your accounts. Last but not least, limit what you share and be choosy about your online friends.