Include Facebook and Cell Phones in Your Spring Break Safety Plans

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Social Networking and mobile devices have become staples in our everyday lives – allowing us to stay connected with friends and family.

However, staying connected has its perils, and with spring break on the horizon for students across the country, now it is time to consider how to safely enjoy a week-long vacation and not miss those all-important friend requests. Dr. Vivian Wright, associate professor of instructional technology at The University of Alabama, offers a few tips on protecting your personal information and having a technology-free vacation.

T.M.I. (Too Much Information)

Social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter allow users to become open books, or at least open Web pages, for their contacts. But being an open book puts you at risk of sharing a little too much.

• Keep phone numbers and addresses far away from your online profile. You can never be to sure who is seeing your profile, so don’t open yourself to being found by someone you would rather not run into—be it an angry ex or someone wanting to harm you.

• Learn more about the privacy settings on your online account. You are only as vulnerable as your privacy settings allow. There might even be some people on your friends list that you don’t want to see certain images of you and your other friends. A good rule of thumb: if you are not willing to share that information in person, don’t share it online.

• Avoid creating a pictorial history. Photos not only document your fun times, but also the places you’ve been and people with whom you associate. These are clues that others can easily piece together to find you. Pictorial histories also limit future job opportunities.

Think About the When, Where and Why of Using Technology

Do you text too much? Do you forget what life was like before Twitter or Facebook? While our mobile devices enable social networking anytime and anywhere, there are times when we should concentrate more on the task at hand. Driving is one of those times. We are aware of the dangers of drinking and driving, but messaging while driving has its hazards, including not watching the road and losing concentration. Pull over before you reply to messages—make it safely to the beach or safely home!

Get unconnected for Spring Break

Sure, it may seem important that your status updates reflect every fun or relaxing detail of your break, but Spring Break is about relaxing and preparing for the rest of the semester. Keeping your mobile device with you at all times is a safety measure as well as a distraction. Think about times when you can leave your phone in the hotel room or take advantage of chances to turn off the ringer. After all, one the biggest appeals of social networking is distraction from daily tasks. Don’t allow it to distract you from your most important task during Spring Break—fun and relaxation. Be safe and disconnect.