SOCIAL NETWORKS PLAY SAFE AND AVOID THE DANGERS!

Social networking sites are a great way of making new friends and keeping in touch
with old ones. Millions of people all over the world are now using them regularly.

My Space was the first of these sites. When it opened in 2003, it was used mostly by
bands who wanted to communicate with fans and post information about concert
dates and new records. Fans could download the music of new bands, like The Arctic
Monkeys, and exchange messages and photos. Now there are Facebook and Bebo,
where people can express their opinions, chat with their friends and make new
friends.

However, this means millions of people are sharing personal information with people
they dont know. But how safe is this? Remember that once information is online, you
may not be able to control what happens to it.

Posting online

Most sites allow you to create a profile. This may include a photo, a description of
your family, your likes and dislikes, favourite music and videos. It may be linked to
your friends profile. Remember that thousands of people may see your profile and not
everyone will agree with your opinions. Think about the future. Will your profile or
pictures be embarrassing if your parents or teachers see them? Will you get into
trouble?

Be cautious!

Other people can put together pieces of information about you and use the
information for illegal purposes.

Keep your password safe and change it often.

Dont give your date of birth to strangers.

Never reveal your home address and telephone number to strangers.

Remember the famous case of Rachel Bell, who used My Space to invite her
friends to a party while her parents were away. Hundreds of strangers arrived
at her house and totally wrecked it.

But enjoy it!

Most people use networking site safely. Be careful online in the same way as you are
careful offline. If something begins to spoil your fun for example, you receive
unwanted attention or offensive comments tell an adult and contact the site
administrator.
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

1. When did My Space open?

2. Who used it originally? Why?

3. What do people do on social networks?

4. What does a profile usually include?

5. Why might your profile or pictures be embarrassing?

6. What information shouldnt you give to strangers?

7. What happened to Rachel Bell?

8. What should you do if something spoils your fun?

9. Do you use MSN or social networks?

10. Have you got a profile page? What have you posted on it?

11. In your opinion, what are the good things about social networks?

12. Have you heard of any bad cases like that of Rachel Bell? What
happened?
WRITING

Here are some abbreviations often used when texting and messaging. Can you fill in
the missing meanings?

RUOK? ..

CUL8R..

CU@6 .

2DAY ..

2MORROW ..

H8 ..

Can you interpreter these messages?

WHERE RU 2DAY? MUST TLK 2U. HOPE 2 CU @ PARTY 2NIGHT

RUOK? SAM ASAP

DO U WANT 2 COME 2 T 2NIGHT? TLK 2U L8R. B4N. LOL

Write a note and pass it to a classmate . See how many abbreviations you can use.
Your classmate has to send you your note back with a reply.

U YOU TLK TALK

R ARE ILU I LOVE YOU

C SEE LUL LOVE YOU LOTS

B BE SAM SEND A MESSAGE

2 TO, TOO KIT KEEP IN TOUCH

4 FOR ASAP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

@ AT B4N BYE FOR NOW

GR8 GREAT FYI FOR YOUR INFORMATION

L8R LATER BTW BY THE WAY

PLS PLEASE (((H))) A BIG HUG