Today is Safer Internet Day. This is an annual international event which aims to raise awareness about the safe and responsible use of new technologies, especially among children and young people. Safer Internet Day is celebrated in 50 countries and this year has about 500 events focusing on the theme “Think B4 U Post”

This year’s theme really resonates with me as I had an experience recently which highlights why you need to ‘think’ when posting.

I am always looking at trends on what people are doing online. One trend that is on the rise is internet dating. It is something I have been watching become a mainstream tool now accepted as a legitimate introduction method – highlighting you really can do everything online these days.

By chance I then received an invitation to connect with a consultant who is an online dating expert through my LinkedIn account. I accepted the invite and then saved her details to my contacts list. However stupid me wasn’t concentrating and I unknowingly updated my profile instead of my contacts.

Soon after I started receiving texts and emails asking me if I was for real, I then realised what I had done. LinkedIn updates had gone out to all my professional and personal contacts informing them that I was now an “online dating expert”. Trust me it took some explaining, especially to those who know my domestic situation – I’m a married man with four kids!

This simple mistake has taught me how easy it is to post unwanted personal information and how embarrassing it can become. So this year Telstra is promoting five simple tips around the Think B4 U Post theme for Safer Internet Day:

1. Think before you post – once information is posted online, even if it’s later deleted or modified, it’s almost impossible to remove completely.
2. Keep your personal information private – be careful about the types of details you publish about yourself and never share important information such as your age, address or phone number on social networking sites.
3. Keep it locked – ensure your computer is locked with a password when you are not using it. Additionally, make sure your mobile phone uses a PIN so if lost or stolen it can’t be used to auto-sign into your online profiles.
4. Stay smart – change passwords on accounts at least twice a year and think before you click on links or attachments from unknown sources.
5. Respect other people’s privacy – don’t post photos of other people or share their information without their permission.

For more handy tips check out the page Think Before You Post—Be Cybersmart for Safer Internet Day.

Also related:

• Media Release: Protect yourself online and “Think B4 U Post”