Online Networking

More than just a storehouse of information, the Internet has become a place for human interaction--the 21st century version of a town square or mall. In the last few years, social networking sites have exploded, allowing millions of people around the world to meet and hang out together. Hundreds of millions of people have joined community sites. Among certain age groups, not having a presence on a site like Facebook is almost like not existing!

Creating a personal page can be as simple as entering a few details about yourself, or spending countless hours building an electronic incarnation of your inner thoughts and interests. Typically, your profile page is a work in progress, updated as often as you wish.

Be aware that just as some unsavory characters hang out at the mall looking to prey on unsuspecting people, the same is true in cyberspace. Later, we'll give you tips to keep safe.

First, set up an account, which is usually free. Some sites have age restrictions and may only be available if you are 13 or older, like Facebook; others, like LinkedIn, are restricted to those over 18 years old. Before posting a profile, think about your purpose. If you want to discuss pop music, MySpace may be right for you, but if you're interested in professional networking, consider LinkedIn.

Once your account is open, you create a personal page by entering profile information and uploading content. Your page tells the world all about you and your interests. A personal page can include photos of friends, family and pets, favorite music groups, songs, and video clips. The only limit is your imagination and common sense--more on this in a moment.

Having an online profile is a terrific way to express yourself and to find people that share similar interests. Once you find a kindred soul or she or he finds you, you communicate via e-mail, instant messaging, or posting of messages directly on your page. Sometimes people agree to meet in person, but many times, relationships remain purely virtual.

Before you start, spend time viewing other people's pages to get ideas and to see what's appropriate for the community you join.

While hundreds of sites now offer some form of social networking, a few have captured the public imagination and tens of millions of members.