Ofallthewebsitesonethathasattractedattentionrecentlyismyspace.com.Mostofthisattentionhascomefromthemediaandtellseveryreasonwhythewebsiteshouldbeshutdown.Thedangerofinternetpredators(窃掠者)isindeedatoughrealitybutshuttingdownthesiteisnottheanswer.Ifmyspace.comwereshutdownanothersitewouldquicklytakeitsplace.Thereforetherightwayistoteachteenshowtousethesitesafelyandeducatethemaboutwhomaybepredatorsandhowtoavoidthem.

ThekeytostayingsafeontheInternetistomakesurethatyourprofile(个人资料)issecure.Thesimplestwayistochangetheprivacysettingonyourprofileto“private”whichprotectsyourinformationsothatonlythepeopleonyourfriendlistcanviewit.Althoughthisiseffectiveitisnotperfect.Predatorscanfindwaystoviewyourprofileiftheyreallywanttowhetherthroughhacking(非法侵入)inorfiguringouttheirwayontoyourfriendlist.Thusyoushouldneverposttoomuchpersonalinformation.Somepeopleactuallyposttheirhomeandschooladdressesdateofbirthandotherpersonalinformationoftenlettingpredatorsknowexactlywheretheywillbeandwhen.Thesafestinformationisyourfirstnameandprovince.Anythingmoreisbasicallyinvitingapredatorintoyourlife.

Anotherbigproblemisphotos.Isuggestcompletelyskippingphotosandneverpostingaphotoofafriendonlinewithoutaskingpermission.

Mostimportantlyneverunderanycircumstancesagreetoareal-lifemeetingwithanyoneyoumeetonline.Nomatterhowwellyouthinkyouknowthispersontherearenoguaranteesthattheyhavetoldthetruth.Butyoucouldfeelfreetochatwithpeopleyoumeetonthesitebutjustrememberthatnoteveryoneiswhotheysaytheyare.Hopefullythenexttimeyouedityourprofileyou’llbemoreinformedaboutthedangersofInternetpredatorsandtakethestepstodefendyourself.

Lastlydonotsendmoneytoanyoneyoumeetonline.AcommonscamamongInternetcriminalsistorequesttopayfor“expensiveInternetcharges”or“unreasonableInternetcafefees”.WhileitisindeedtruethatmanycountriesinEasternEuropeAsiaAfricaandSouthAmericadonotyethaveInternetservicereadilyavailableinallcitiesandtownsasincerefriendfromoneofthesecountrieswillbemorethanhappytopaytheirow