Social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and other sites have taken off in popularity with good reason. Through social media, you are able to meet people from all over the world who share your interests and can form lifelong relationships without ever leaving your living room.
Safety is a very important concern when using social media. Because the internet provides so much anonymity, it is difficult to know if you are really talking to the person you think you are. While there are legal proceedings for if you have been scammed online, here are some tips to help you avoid that mess.
1) Join groups that share your interests. One of the best way to narrow down the millions of potential “friends” in cyberspace to people you want to talk to is to join groups or circles of people who share interests and beliefs. There are thousands of groups available through Yahoo, Facebook, and other social media groups. Simply search for a term that matches your interests, such as “dog rescue” or “European travel for Americans.” The more specific you are, the more likely you are to find people who match your interests and talents.
2) Become friends with your friends’ friends. Facebook has a great feature that allows you to “friend” the people your friends know. This provides an “instant meet” and breaks the ice for conversation between you on common ground. If in doubt, ask your friend about the person so you can be sure he or she will welcome a friend request.
3) Play games. Playing games can be a great way to connect and make friends and gives you hours of fun, too. There are so many online games available it would be difficult to imagine how you could fail to find one that appeals to your personal tastes. Best of all, games tend to categorize people by their likes and dislikes so you are almost sure of meeting fellow players like yourself.
4) Engage in interaction on message boards. There are comments and message boards available for all types of topics. Join in the conversation, but remember to be polite and respectful. You will soon find yourself talking with other regular posters.
5) Stay safe. The most important thing you can do as you meet others is to protect your identity and safety. Unfortunately, although the majority of people online are just like you, there are a few out there who are not safe to talk to. Learn to identify the signs of someone who wants to know too much about you, and be sure you protect your personal information until it is safe to reveal it to someone.
The internet provides a whole new world of interaction and enjoyment that you can take advantage of safely. Have fun meeting others online!
Byline: Frank Anderson writes on all things social media, from badoo to twitter to social marketing.
RyanD
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