In this internet age, we often forget just how easily accessible your private information is and how one simple mistake can cause you more pain than you can imagine. I’m talking stalking. It’s not fun, it’s not a game and it can have ultimate consequences if you don’t address the situation properly. Below are some tips to stay safe online and to limit your chances of acquiring a dangerous stalker.

Limit the Photos

You may be a gorgeous girl and be fully proud of how you look. Others may dote on this quality about you, as well. However, one can become completely too comfortable with themselves on the internet and cause a world of distress. One picture can ruin your life. In order to buy instagram likes, The clarity of the photos should be good. It should provide a clear vision to the person to know about the person or products.

While we live in a world of social media, it’s important to remember that the ‘friend of a friend’ that hits the “like” button on a facebook picture of you or a person that retweets a snapshot of you at the falls may not be someone that you want to deal with in real life. In fact, I’ve seen how stalking can ruin people. All it takes is one picture and someone with the ability to use a photoshop program to make your innocent smile more adult. Once it’s out there, you probably won’t be able to stop it spreading. This also means if it spreads enough, people find out who you are and end up trying to find you. Long story short, just be sure to limit the “sexy” photos you may think are fun and flirty. A stalker never considers them fun. He (or she) considers them an ultimate goal.

This also includes locations you frequent and friends. Let’s not get them in harms way either. If you must post pictures for all of facebook to see, be sure that those privacy settings prevent outsiders from viewing your entire life online.

Name, please?

I’m even guilty of this one. You want your friends and family to find you on Facebook, right? So what do you do to prevent being stalked? Limit your name use online. Sure, Facebook is fine and dandy, but be sure that you set proper privacy settings so that not every Tom, Dick or Harry end up being able to access that you went to Sunnyshine Middle School and Gloomdale High. Just that little bit of information on top of a picture AND a name just screams disaster.

I won’t say every person is a creepy stalker at all. I’ve met some pretty awesome people on social media, but, I’ve also met some that were less than decent people. However, if you take twitter as a social platform, not a single soul on there (excepting family) know my twitter name. I have a generic flower picture and I never post anything photograph-wise that I wouldn’t want a perfect stranger to see.

“I want to send you a gift…”

I’ve seen this from conversations as well as experienced it personally. This is something that should raise the red flag as high as it can go. While someone may appreciate a gesture you’ve done (be it sending a cheer up message or things I don’t want to think about) you should never under ANY circumstance give out your actual physical address. If you want to “show off” your body or anything in exchange for gifts, please just remember this one simple thing: have any gifts sent to a general Post Office. That way, if you get a present, they may know your town and your name, but they don’t know where you live. Also, go with someone to the post office. Pay attention and look for strange looking people. Keep your eyes open. Never, ever, let them know where you really leave until you can guarantee that they are not about to stalk you.

It’s bad enough that in this day and age you can be stalked by someone in your own town and be petrified of them harming you. These are simple reminders that can help keep distant “creepy guys/girls” away and make sure that you and your family remain safe. Please, though, if at any time someone gets too crazy and insists on finding you, ask them to stop. If they don’t stop, immediately contact your local police. Be safe!