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Stay safe on Social Media

Social media is a great way to stay connected — you can chat with friends and family, link up with workmates, meet people who share your interests, and share photos or videos. But while it has plenty of benefits, it also comes with risks — so it’s important to use it safely and responsibly.  

What to know about social media:

• You must be at least 13 to sign up for most social networking sites.

• Popular platforms include Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, Discord, YouTube, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Reddit.

• Many sites have private messaging features for one-to-one conversations.

• Most social networks have apps for phones or tablets — and some can use your location.

• On Facebook, you can approve or reject tags before they appear on your profile

• Anything you post can be copied, shared, and spread quickly — and it’s hard to undo once it’s out there.

Risks associated with social networking:

• Addiction

• Identity theft

• Loss of privacy

• Cyberbullying and blackmail

• Phishing attacks

• Threating associations