Smokescreen

On their own, bits of information posted online don't mean very much, but if you join them together, they can make a surprisingly detailed picture.

This is what sites like Facebook and Bebo do: they join up information. If you go to a friend's birthday party, chances are you got invited through a Facebook event, posted about going in a status update, wrote on your mate's wall to wish them a happy birthday and then added photos afterwards - and it can all be found right on your profile. Great if you're sharing with people you know, not so great if you don't actually know all your Facebook friends (or if your profile is public!).

Shane was able to follow Jo in the real world by using the updates she posted on White Smoke, 'Fakebook' and 'Tweetr': he knew where she was going, who she was going with, and even what her favourite drink was! Handy when you want to Facebook-stalk your ex, but not so much if the tables are turned...

The solution isn't to stop using the internet (how would you find out about parties otherwise?). In fact, sites like Twitter and Facebook can help friends keep an eye on each other - and keep each other safe - when they're out.

Some Simple Precautions

1. Make sure you know how to use your privacy settings! Most websites will let you limit who can see your profile, posts and photos to 'just friends'
2. Be careful about who you friend on Facebook and other websites. Do you actually know them? Think about what you're giving them access to - for most people, it's pretty much everything. Lots of sites allow you to put people on different friends-lists and restrict what they see. (Apparently, 41% of Facebook users friended a plastic frog, which is pretty funny until you think about how easy it is for anyone to do this).
3. If someone's looking for it, they can search for information on you on Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Flickr, Twitter, and all the rest. Just because it's not all on one site, or even if it doesn't have your name on it, doesn't mean that someone determined can't find it.
4. Use common sense when you put something online! Think about your mum or your teacher finding it; would you be horribly embarrassed if they did? If so, then consider not posting that comment/update/funny-but-dodgy-photo online because they could find it somehow!

If you feel stalked, or even uncomfortable with someone's behaviour online or offline, tell someone!

Stalking - over the internet and offline-- is a serious crime. If you don't feel comfortable going to the police, you can should tell an adult or call Samaritans for confidential advice on 08457 90 90 90.