AARP - Segunda Juventud - Play It Safe in Cyberspace

Play It Safe in Cyberspace
Use caution on the new Spanish-language social websites by keeping personal information personal.

By Fresia Rodríguez Cadavid
October/November 2007

Love at First Click (febrero/marzo 2006)

Avoiding Online ID Theft (junio/julio 2005)
Notice anything diferente lately about YouTube, the popular video-sharing site? Videos can now be accessed in Spanish on es.youtube.com, which now targets Hispanics worldwide.

YouTube isn’t the only website tapping into—and connecting—Hispanic Internet surfers. The Cyloop.com site (formerly ElHood.com ) showcases Latin music, and vostu.com brings together Spanish-speaking alumni from academic institutions across Latin America. You can also click on MySpace en Español for U.S. Hispanics and MySpace Latinoamérica for Latin American users.

While you surf and socialize, take these steps to keep yourself and loved ones safe:

Resources

Networking Safety Tips for Adults
from Top Ten Reviews

OnGuardOnline
from the FTC

Online Dating Safety Tips
from About.com's Senior Living section

Choose a username that offers no clues about who you are, where you live, or how old you are.

When you create a personal profile, don’t give your last name, workplace, or other details.

Beware of posting photos, which can be altered or used in ways you can’t anticipate.

Be sure to watch out for people who ask for intimate details about you or seem too eager to meet you in person.

If you eventually decide to meet someone from the network in person, arrange to meet in a public place—and bring along a friend.

These links are provided for informational purposes only. AARP does not endorse, and has no control over, or responsibility for, the linked sites or the content, advertisements, materials, products, or services available on or throughout these sites.

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