Privacy: Dangers of Oversharing Online

Oversharing is when a person divulges excessive personal information in a public forum.  The biggest concern is when an individual overshares information that could make him or her a target for cyber-stalkers and/or cyberbullies.  Children and teenagers are particularly susceptible to this, as their networks are large, and they frequently post details.

Despite an understanding that social networking sites are private and only selected and approved friends see posts, there is still potential for trouble.  Not enough users check and update privacy settings, for example, leaving their posts viewable to more people than they know. Many users post when they’ll be away from home, unaware that they are inviting home invaders. 

For parents, it’s important to note that giving away too much information about children is never wise – full names and full birthdates should never be posted on-line -- and no child should be let loose without adult supervision on a social networking site.

A good rule of thumb is to remember that a post on a social networking site will never be as private as a letter sent to a friend.  Sharing life’s events is one thing. Sharing those events in detail is another.