HamletHub Receives Online Safety Tips for Teens from Law Enforcement Officer, Aidan J. Cassidy
The present is a wonderful time to be a teen. I mean, sure, the age of the Brat Pack and big hair was a cool time to grow up, but who really misses waiting by the phone in your house for a call? Or mail that takes at least a day and 20 cents to get to its destination? Or pictures that must be printed? Technology has certainly changed the way we live and grow up today, mostly for the better, but this new territory of the internet comes with new rules and safety precautions. Using the internet, you don't even have to leave your bedroom to put yourself in a potentially dangerous situation.
When I think of social media, Facebook is always one of the first things to come to mind. It is the go-to place to collaborate school projects, share pictures from summer trips, and much more. If you're like me, you probably have hundreds of friends, most of which you don't even remember friending. According to Aidan J. Cassidy, a former LEO (Law Enforcement Officer) with over 20 years of experience, this is not model behavior. "Don't blindly accept every friend request you receive. You're inviting this person into your world. Do your research." Every person you friend has access to everything you've ever done on the social network from the countless pages you liked in middle school to your birthday, personal pictures, and even your phone number and email. You really have to think before you click "confirm", Do I really want this person to know so much about me?
Then I think of Instagram, the teenage girl's dream. You can like and post pictures of food, places, friends, selfies, you name it. Seems innocent enough, but it can be dangerous if you're not careful. Cassidy says, "Be careful with the photos you post. Posting provocative pictures can make you a target for online predators."
The bottom line is that you have to think twice before you click "post". Once something is on the internet, it's there forever. Hypothetically, you must be prepared for the entire world to see everything you post. That includes colleges, parents,future employers, and strangers. It is also important to make sure that you have as many privacy settings activated as you can. This can help protect you from having just anybody see your information, whether that person is a classmate or a sexual predator. . The internet has as much risk as it does reward so knowing how to use it safely is extremely important.
To summarize:
- Don't friend just anybody
- Report inappropriate material
- Be careful what you post