[Editor’s note: With school starting soon, this is timely information!  New devices will be purchased, new accounts will be created, and many young people will spend more of their time out from under Mom’s or Dad’s immediate oversight.  As parents, we may not all tackle these issues in quite the same way, but it’s important to be aware of them all so we can make decisions with eyes wide open!]

Facebook and Twitter have become integral parts of our day-to-day lives. In fact 73 percent of adults use at least one type of social networking site, while 42 percent use multiple sites. In addition to Facebook and Twitter, you also have Google+, Pinterest and LinkedIn, and new sites are cropping up every day.

Adults aren’t the only ones using these sites. Teens and children make up a large number of Facebook and Twitter users, and their numbers are steadily growing.

As we become more visible through social media, so too are we at greater risk. Con artists are using Facebook to target people for online scams, and predators are using social networking to target children.

Social media can be fun but when exploited by bad people, it can be a nightmare. So how do you protect yourself and your children?

Internet Security Software

There was a time when viruses and Trojan horses were the biggest internet threats. As the internet has grown more sophisticated, so have the hackers’ methods for infiltrating your computer to steal data or damage your machine. Today’s internet security software is designed not only to find and eliminate viruses, but also to scan social media sites for threats. Even Mac users, who used to be considered immune to internet threats, need some help from internet security software.

If you currently have internet security installed, make sure it is set to auto-update all of your definitions, and to automatically scan your computer and websites. You should also make sure it has a component that specifically scans your social media sites and personal pages.

If you don’t have internet security, or if it does not give you the option to scan Facebook and your other social media pages, you should seriously consider getting new software or upgrading. You can find several robust packages for PC and Mac from companies like Norton, McAfee, and Trendmicro.com.

While a good internet security package can protect you from malicious links on your social media pages, there are other things that you need to do to further protect your page, your privacy, and your family.

Lock Down Your Profiles

Most social networking sites offer a way for you to adjust the privacy and security settings for your profile. For some providers, the default setting is “public,” meaning your profile is visible to anyone else who uses that service.

Setting your profile — and your kids’ profiles — to “friends-only,” or whatever the equivalent is for that service, will prevent strangers from accessing them.

Facebook also has settings that will allow you to restrict access to your photos, making it difficult for scammers to steal them for their own use.

Avoid Listing Personal Information

Even if the site requires you to provide your address and phone number, be sure to set these things as invisible to the public. You should also avoid including your date of birth, your middle name, and your place of birth – all of which can be used to get security information.

This information also applies to your child’s profile. Even if he doesn’t have a bank account, a predator could use that information to establish familiarity.

Teach Your Kids to Be Responsible

As I said earlier, social media sites are the new hunting ground for internet predators. You should always monitor your kids’ pages and friends lists and teach them not to post personal information or befriend suspicious people.

You should also consider prohibiting them from using social media at all until they reach a certain age — like junior high.  [Editor’s note: Most social media sites don’t permit children under 13 from opening accounts, anyway,  for legal reasons. If your children are younger and you have created accounts for them, you are violating the site’s Terms of Service.  Let’s operate within the realm of ethics and legality, people!]

You should teach them not to use apps that could compromise their security.

A lot of Facebook apps require access to contacts and other information in order to work. According to Facecrooks, many of these apps can be malicious and put any profile at risk. Your best bet is to avoid using apps and plugins save for those that come from reputable sources, like internet security apps.

If your child is being bullied on one of these sites, teach them how to block and report the offending party. If the situation does not improve, consider disabling your child’s profile, and giving them guidance on how to cope with bullying.

What have you done to help keep your family secure online?