Making social networking work for you

Your social life may be just as much about keyboards and computer screens as it is about going out on the town. With social networking, you can be your own party planner, paparazzi, society reporter, matchmaker and biographer. Your social networking image is what you make it. You can appear to be a 94-year-old grandma from Scranton... or you can just be yourself.

The Cool Clubs
Some social networking sites are hotter than others. The two biggies are Facebook (facebook.com) and MySpace (myspace.com). Facebook features a clean interface and lots of cool applications that you can add to your profile. Check out iLike for adding video and music, Super Wall or Funwall for sprucing up your message section and Bumper Sticker for slapping virtual stickers on your friends' pages. MySpace is especially popular for musicians and fans of musicians. It's a great way to find new music and keep up on your favorite band's tour schedule and news. MySpace's 2008 overhaul and upgrade has helped to spiff up the site, improve the interface and make everything run a little more smoothly.

Did you know that there are specific social networking sites for chess players, Goth vampire fans, '80s hair metal fans and people who live in Albuquerque? Niche and local social networks are booming. A quick search online will reveal social networks that match your hobbies, job, school or city. If you can't find what you're looking for, you can create your own. Ning (ning.com) lets you set up your very own social network with any focus that you like.

Check Your Etiquette
Miss Manners would be appalled at a lot of what goes on on social networking sites. Mind your manners and avoid the kind of social networking faux pas that will have your buddies jumping ship off your profile.

Do: remember that your current or future employer will likely plug your name into a search engine and go to town. Don't put anything online that might embarrass you later.

Don't: say things online that you wouldn't tell someone face to face. Cyber bullying can have major real-world consequences.

Do: keep the Golden Rule in mind. You don't want to lose your BFF because you posted those embarrassing photos of her on your MySpace page. The “treat others as you want to be treated yourself” rule still applies in the digital world.

Don't: be an invitation spammer. If you don't know the person you're trying to connect with, write them a brief note to let them know why you want to be their friend. You might have mutual friends or share common interests.

Social Safety
The social networking waters may look cool and calm, but there are always a few sharks under the surface. For starters, you don't have to accept every friend invitation that comes your way. Consider keeping your online social circle restricted to friends and family that you already know in the real world. An extra measure to take is to keep your profile private. That means you control who has access to your page and can keep strangers from snooping around in your personal information.

Keep your private details out of the social networking loop entirely. That means no social security number, address, phone number or intimate details. People you meet through social networking aren't always what they seem to be on the surface. That nice 94-year-old grandma from Scranton might actually be a 20-year-old guy from Dallas. Be extra cautious if someone you meet online wants to meet in person. If you absolutely must meet up, take a friend and meet in a well-populated public place. Put your common sense to good work, and your social networks can be safe networks.