Meeting Someone On The Internet - Is It Really Safe?

By Rainier Wong

Long before the days of the Internet, people had been socializing with one another, and strangers had even introduce themselves to one another using mainly what is now known as snail mail. Some of such meetings ended up in marriages. You might have done this before, and perhaps you might found out about the person you had been corresponding with via a newspaper or a magazine.

Today, many people still do the same but instead on the slower form of communication method, they now rely on the much faster way known as electronic mail or e-mail for short. There are now websites that assist their members to find new people either for basic friendship or marriage. Such sites are usually classified as Social Networking sites. One may ask the question "Is it really safe to meet someone on the Internet?". Well, in reality, there is a risk to everything especially when dealing with strangers. This does not mean you must not use the Internet find a friend or your special someone. Just like getting to know someone via a pen-pal program of magazine or newspaper, one has to exercise caution when getting friends via the Internet. Here are some of my suggestions:

1. Always run a background check on a person before asking him or her to be your friend. I remember reading somewhere George Washington once said, "It's better to be alone than in bad company.". I do not mind people checking on my background. It's better to be safe and sorry. Some sites display the IP address of the person who is signing up as a member on the online forms to deter people with bad intentions from becoming members. Some even required some form of identity to ensure the person is genuine.

2. Do not rush into it, and use only reputable sites. Avoid sites that promote illegal activities.

3. Study the profile of the person carefully, and you use your common sense to select or reject the person.

4. Always have respect for the person you have chosen as your friend. Do not write anything that may hurt his or her feelings or provoke him or her to anger. Remember he or she is also human like you are.

5. Try to get someone which share the same passion you have or is willing to support whatever you do.

6. Read the privacy statement of the site very carefully to see how the details you submitted to them are being handled.

7. Read the terms of service carefully also. Make sure they do not allow multiple usernames that enables predators to perform their mischievous acts.

Of course, this is not all to safety on getting friends via the Internet I strongly suggest you get advise from people who have experience in making friends online.

Rainier Wong is the webmaster of Hotallegro (http://www.hotallegro.com)

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