There are many dangers when it comes to using the Internet. With social networking these issues have become more prevalent. The amount of information now accessible to us is astounding. The only real tool needed for a stalker is Google. If a person has failed to keep their personal information private, you can find out anything you need to know. Facebook and MySpace make it so people can actually contact you. With a little conversation, a stranger whose intent is malicious can trick you into giving away personal information. Simply revealing your first name, the weather, and what activities you enjoy can allow for a person with enough determination to find you.

Some of the most ubiquitous offenders include: cyber bullies, stalkers, and sexual predators. More often than not, victims of the listed culprits will have some relation with the above prior to meeting online, but the danger is nonetheless present. The following are news stories I found on the consequences of reckless behavior online:

[NOTE: I named the social network that was used. The hyperlink is to the actual stories, not the social websites themselves.]

Justin.tv: A 19 year old boy who suffered from clinical depression and bipolar disorder had threatened many times to commit suicide. When the remarks were discounted, he turned on his webcam and began to swallow pills. Meanwhile many viewers egged him on and threw insults at him. The police were not called until viewers realized that he was not moving anymore.

Teen Chat Rooms: Chat rooms made specifically for teens and preteens are exactly where pedophiles go first. A reporter went in multiple chat rooms acting as a 14 year old girl and was immediately bombarded with vulgar messages. Many of these chat rooms did not even require an account making them a hot spot for online predators to lurk until finding a person willing to give them means of further contact.

MySpace: Heather Kane was upset at another woman for contacting her boyfriend on myspace and sending him pictures. Using the information and pictures from this girl, Heather plotted to murder the woman through a hit man. This uncovers the danger of revealing information about yourself though public comments and posts.

Facebook: George Appleton from Greater Manchester used Facebook as a tool to stalk his ex-girlfriend and a mean contact for girls he met through dating websites; this led to the murder of his girlfriend as well as sexual assaults on at least 4 women. He has yet to be caught, but his Facebook reveals that he very much enjoys horror films. .

Yahoo:

Alicia Kozakiewicz met Tyree in a Yahoo online chat. She was later convinced to meet him when he kidnapped her and took her to his apartment where he tortured her. It was only by luck that she was found 5 days later. Alicia was tricked into thinking that Tyree loved her because she did not fit in with people at school.

While all of these situations may seem very scary, there are ways to stay safe on the Internet, like keeping your profile on social networking websites private, adding only your friends who you have met in real life. It’s recommended that you do not post your pictures online unless they are on private websites. In naming your pictures, its best you don’t use words but a bunch of numbers as well so people will not be able to search things like “teenage girl” and use them inappropriately.

Remember to act suspiciously if meeting a person online. Especially if there’s no way for them to prove to be who they say they are.

Don’t forget that people’s accounts can be hacked as well. If a friend is acting strangely or sending you suspicious links don’t interact with them online. Ask them about it in person or over the phone. People are easily deceived this way.

Keeping all this in mind, your Internet use should be safer.