Today so many people use social media to communicate with eachother. I know I use Facebook to catch up on family photos from my siblings who are scattered throughout the country. It's free and I don't have to worry about when to call (especially if they live in Alaska!)
Here are some bits of information with helpful hints to get you to understand more about social media and ways to protect yourself.
Social media
Sites such as Facebook and Twitter may seem more geared for the younger crowd, but these sites also offer some entertainment for seniors. These sites allow you to share photos, news updates, and interact with your friends and family any time.
You can also connect with certain brands, politicians, and celebrities. If you do join one of these sites, be sure you read up on the rules of etiquette that you will want to follow.
Protecting yourself from the dark side of the internet
While there are a lot of good things to be offered on the internet, there are a lot of things that you should be aware of too.
Whether it is saving your passwords or downloading software, you need to be sure that your information is secure. Make sure you have antivirus software installed that will keep your personal information from being compromised.
Always use unique passwords that involve both lower case and capital letters, numbers, and special characters. Use different passwords for different sites, and if need be, store them with a password manager so they are easy to recall.
Understand what phishing is and how you can avoid it. Phishing is when an email is sent to a person trying to gather sensitive information such as social security numbers, passwords, credit card information, and more. These emails appear to come from a reputable source. Before complying with the request, call the organization for verification.
The internet is all about closing the distance gap between people and helping us communicate better.
Whether you are connecting with others, exploring your interests, or using the internet for entertainment, technology can be an amazing thing with the right precautions. So, get out there and enjoy it!
