160 replies to this topic

[Cheeky]

And be especially aware on social networks like myspace and facebook.

I know it's hard, but if you don't know the person, don't add them.
Even if they live in your city.
Don't add them unless you personally know them.

And keep your profiles private.
Myspace is used by millions of people.
You don't know who might be looking.

[Stallion Fury]

Good thread. Wanted to add that if Myspace was a country, it would be the largest (or 2nd largest, forget) country in the world. Do you want everyone in a country knowing where you live, who you are, etc, etc? Think about what kind of people might potentially be hiding.

Also I'm copying this thing that I wrote from another thread:

There are many people out there who prey on the vulnerability of children on the internet. Since the Internet is NOT monitored, it is extremely easy to talk to someone who may seem to be someone who is very nice, but in fact, may not be who he/she seems to be.

I strongly suggest that if you use messaging service which allows people to randomly add you; aka AIM or ICQ, be EXTREMELY careful and stay vigilant. However, this does NOT mean that using YIM or MSN is safe either; people can add you, but there is an extra safety margin.

Also do not tell people information regarding where you live, what school you go to, your age, or anything that can potentially used to identify you in any way to ANYONE on the internet unless you absolutely know this person. By absolutely, I mean use this simple test:
Can I trust this person with my life? If you say no, or not sure, don't do it.

I've read an article in the paper where a teen girl was talking to a guy on the internet. Again, it was semi-flirting kind of thing. Eventually, it got to the point where the man asked the girl to take a picture of her breast and send it to her; if she didn't he'd mess her computer. He showed this by remotely opening her CD drive. She complied, but this only made him want more.

DO NOT FALL FOR THIS. I REPEAT. DO NOT FALL FOR ANYTHING OF THE SORT!!

If something like this happens to you REGARDLESS of gender, immediately shut down your computer (or at least close your messenger or browser) and call an adult right away. DO NOT keep something like this to yourself, and NEVER reveal yourself.
Even if you feel as if you have avoided a problem like this, always let an adult know what you are doing on the computer. AVOID IRC (Internet Relay Chat) and minimize ICQ/AIM usage. Be extremely cautious on MSN/YIM.
Since the Internet is being prevalent technology, its becoming even easier for shady people to gain access with just some basic knowledge of how the Internet works.

Edited by Stallion Fury, 18 October 2007 - 12:13 PM.

[luvergirl]

Wow you make a good point Monkeymom!
Nicely said!

[Tom]

wow great info mm i get scared sometimes as i have nearly been abducted once by a weirdo man and i had to run away as he grabbed me anyways you can never be to careful who you are talking to

Edited by cutie-misty, 14 February 2008 - 12:09 AM.

[Ilovetilt]

wow great info mm i get scared sometimes as i have nearly been abducted once by a weirdo man and i had to run away as he grabbed me anyways you can never be to careful who you are talking to

=O
Im glad you got away Cutie-Misty. =D

Thanks MM =]
I like the 2smrt4u website. =]

[Tom]

so am i i was very lucky that time

[luvmyHammie]

Good points. I don't want to go on chatrooms like Myspace, Bebo, ect. Even if i'll earn friends at school by doing it. I would just say a strong "No."

[Trouble_1]

My parents don't let me even get on Myspace. After all the stuff I've heard about it and other place like it, I don't really even want to get on there.

[Kiki_Hammy]

Argh.
Sorry for bringing up a very old topic,but I feel I had to say this....

Like other online places like Myspace and such,Neopets and other virtual pet places are another prime target for children to get attacked on.
I use to play Neopets,as any other little kid,and one day I got a death threat from some random person,and my dad toke care of it. Turns out,the guy was a pervert. He got arrested.
I've been stalked 5 times in Wal*Mart with my mom before. All perverts.
You're not safe anywhere anymore
Make sure you don't give out email or anything anywhere. Don't even give out your name!
I noticed a few people let info slip--there age,there name,ect. Sometimes even there city/town.
Nobody is safe,old and young.
Just PLEASE,keep safe!
Being stalked is not as fun as you all think. Its scary and creepy. Not enough people know to not let info slip,but they let people know there age.
If you think about it,if the Internet was a country(lol),then it would be bigger then China. Way bigger.
Would you like the whole world to know your age,your city,ect? I wouldn't!
The bottom line is,you don't know who your talking to.
Even if they give you a picture of themselves,it could be off Google for all you know!
Please,keep safe everyone.
Everyone can view everything on here.

My parents don't let me on Myspace,or anything like that.
They FORBID me on it,and I don't even want to go there.

MM: Where do you order the ring? I can't find it on the site.

Oh yeah,keep away from IMVU. Its FULL of perverts.

Edited by Kiki_Hammy, 14 August 2008 - 09:03 AM.

[robinhamster]

I don't think age matters really. I mean there's thousands of kids that are the same age in just one city.


One forum i'm on there was a sexual predator (he was there a yr before i joined the place) and he was in the VIP section where alot of people tell all their personal info. he was actually under more than one username and no one knew for a long time. he threatened people and everything. and He admitted to stalking this one girl on Myspace. the admin of course banned him but i think thats all that happened, he shuldve gotten arrested.(i'm not really sure because to mention this guy is like taboo because everyone is scared of him) now he came back recently and somehow a member found out and told on him and apprently was banned. I think this guy is insane too. he totally dwelled on little things and wrote huge long responses that sounded very intelligent with all the big words but the subject didnt even matter, what he was talking about was blown outta proportion (i guess he;s a guy, people call him a girl though..). kinda scary really.. that forum is probably is favorite and now i just feel creeped out

[Kiki_Hammy]

Robin,you should tell an admin...Thats dangerous. And creepy!
I mean,HE ADMITED stalking a girl! D:<
One time when I was stalked at wal*mart,then perv FOLLOWED us in till we turned into the police station. We had to have a police+k9 unit escort home -.-

This topic reminds me of a movie I watched.
It has Jennifer Lopez in it,and its based on a true story.
Jlo is basiclly a reporter sent to Mexico in it,and she does a story on these girls that get rapped. Its so sad that Mexico has sooo many pervs....We have A TONNNN of mexican pervs here,sadly. -.-

[robinhamster]

Robin,you should tell an admin...Thats dangerous. And creepy!

They know about it. they said "we dealt with it" which i assume to mean he's been IP banned once again.. which i dont think is enough since apparently he gets a new IP or whatever :/

and whats worse is that his recent account somehow got into the VIP section (when he shouldn't have been able to) and put a pic of a member in his avatar that was posted in the VIP photo gallery... so there might be someone who gave this guy that pic (which means theres someone untrustworthy among us..) or he;s got more accounts

[Lucas]

Very good points everyone.

For me, I am not very careful, and I have to admit that.
I have my picture on MYspace, and all over the place. And honestly? I don't know anyone out of the 100 friends I have, personally.
Judge me, I don't care...
Pictures are decieving. As long as I don't have every spot of information on there, which I don't, then I think it's fine.
Stalkers look for people who have all the goods, they arent going to waste much time with someone who has their picture up, and not having other info.
It says I live in Canada as well on my Myspace, but Canada is like the 2nd largest country in the world...Do I honestly think they're going to find me very easily? Of course not...
I have my doubts, but again I don't go psoting my phone number and my city.

I have also figured out a way to easily make yourself suspicious, and weary of someone who might not be who they said they are.
If you have a Facebook account, chances are, you're going to have YOUR friends and family, and people you know personally, no?
But, if you're like me, you're also going to have other people you don't necesarily know--for example I have many HH people on my friends list, as well as people I've talked to through different things.
A way you can figure if they are liars, is if they don't have friends or family, but people who are not related to them at all.
Especially over a length of time.
And, don't let them fool you and say none of their friends/family at ALL has a Facebook, it's just hardly possible.
And if they don't have pictures of themselves, that's another way to catch them.

And if they're underage to post pics? Then why are they on Facebook?
It's easy.

You can also easily tell when they are constantly asking you personal questions.
Where do you live? What do you look like? What school do you go to? How old are you?
If they were like a normal person on the internet, they'd also be weary of who they were talking to, and probably wouldn't ask those questions.

I've been asked all of the above before through MSN; they found my e-mail through a site, but failed to tell me which one.
It could have been anything from anywhere.
I havn't talked to them since, so who knows?

Edited by Jordyn, 15 August 2008 - 01:09 AM.

[smile2374]

The way I see it, it's like sex. People who are taught "abstinance only" and are told nothing about protection and stuff are way more likely to have sex anyway and get pregnant/an STI then people who are actually taught about sex and protection and stuff.
Basically, kids shouldn't just be told to straight out not do social stuff online, cause the way we live now, *everyone* does and they will anyway. They should just be told to be cautious and not give out too much info.

[HamHam_]

Im glad this issue has been talked about on HH. I'm also glad the younger members of the forum are being guided as to the dangers of chat rooms. You cannot trust that anyone is who they say they are unless you know them in 'real life' Remember this is not real life. I use chat rooms but I am very cautious and aware. Chat rooms are no place to talk about private or personal stuff. Stay safe online.