Strangers at Gate: Exercising Safety Both On and Offline

When you meet someone new, how often do you run an online search on them? Do you look at their Facebook page, their Twitter, or both?Are you teaching your children to do the same?

A few weeks ago, I had the honor of acting as a moderator at the Urban League Of Hudson County’s Girls 2 Women Empowerment Conference  on a panel titled, “Sexting & Cyber Bullying:  Think No One Knows What You Did on Your Cell Phone and Computer? Think Again.” Over the course of the day, I had the opportunity to speak to approximately 140 young girls ranging from ages 14-17. When I asked the young ladies whether they were checking up on new acquaintances online, the answer I received was chilling. Out of approximately 140 young women only five said they made sure to run an online check on the people in their lives.

The number one reason most of the attendees refrained from googling new people? Fear of being perceived as a cyber-stalker. Even more frightening was the fact that most of the young ladies didn’t realize how easy it was to pull up information about themselves online. In fact, the chorus of denials and teeth-sucking almost got deafening at one point. That’s when I pulled out my laptop and let them put it to the test. Many of the volunteers that searched themselves online had at least their Facebook or Twitter profile appear. One participant had an a picture of her with a quote she made to an after-school program come up with the results — complete with her school’s information.

Another point where the teens were misinformed was how information is stored online. Many thought that once you deleted something online, that was it. When they were informed of online caching and the TOS of some of the more popular social networking sites out there, many of the young ladies were shocked. And when the bomb was dropped about the Library of Congress cataloging tweets, the silence was palpable. The implications are serious in an era where cyberbullying is being coming a serious concern. My home state of New Jersey has recently approved one of the toughest laws in place against online harassment. So when does a teen blowing off steam online turn into cyberbullying? What are the ramifications? These are circumstances that are still being determined.

This article is not to incite a panic, but I do want to impress upon everyone the importance of practicing responsible behavior with your online persona. As technology continues to improve, no longer is the person behind the computer an anonymous user. It only takes a couple of keystrokes to determine if that cute guy/girl you met at the party or bookstore is really who they say they are. In a day where people are physically meeting the people they interact with online, it never hurts to pull out your digital magnifying glass and check the person out. What you find can save you time, money, or quite possibly your life.

About the Author
Sherri is a freelance writer that has a love of all things fun and geeky including gadgets, gaming, anime, and comics. When she isn't writing or out on the town living it up, she loves doing 10-12 hour marathon sessions on her Xbox 360 or one of her older consoles. It's not an addiction, it's a way of life!
See all posts by Sherri L. Smith.