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I have friends who swear by online social and professional networks like Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn. Where else can you reconnect with long-lost former classmates, post vacation photos for friends around the world, share your resume with potential employers and perhaps even find love — all, without leaving your couch?
Although the Internet has made reaching out easier than ever, whenever you share personal information, a few cautions are in order. This is a good time to have a quick Privacy 101 discussion with your kids. And, since people over 30 are the fastest-growing social networking demographic, parents might benefit as well.
Keep in mind:
E-mail is forever. Deleting an e-mail from your computer doesn’t mean it no longer exists. Chances are your email provider — or employer, if sent from work — will retain a record for years. Plus, recipients won’t necessarily delete the e-mail and may in fact forward it to others. Worst case: Your words could even be used as evidence against you in court; so think twice before posting derogatory comments about people or employers.
Haunting photos. You’ve read about people who posted photos on their homepages they later regretted. It’s one thing for parents to learn about youthful indiscretions this way, but colleges and employers increasingly conduct online searches of potential candidates and use such information to rule them out for consideration.
Not to instill paranoia, but even photos or information about you that someone else has posted can turn up in such searches. My rule of thumb: If you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see it, don’t do or say it.
Too much information. Many people post personal or nostalgic information about themselves on their profiles — first pet’s name, childhood addresses, favorite pizza topping, etc. Keep in mind that many Web sites where you do business (like banks) ask these kinds of security questions to ascertain your identity before you can log in.
Identity thieves have been know to mine this information and combine it with a stolen credit card or Social Security number to open bogus accounts or even forge passports. Avoid posting:
• Current and past addresses
• Phone numbers and email addresses
• Birth date
• Personal information like the above examples that might be asked for security questions
• Upcoming vacation schedules (you could be targeted for a break-in)
Also, never use this type of information in your passwords.
One last — and serious — reminder: Sexual predators increasingly are using the Internet to target both child and adult victims by posing as peers or friends. Although software is available to help track your children’s online activities, you can’t follow them 24/7. Have the “don’t talk with or e-mail strangers” discussion as soon as they start using computers.
These are only a few of the precautions you and your kids should take when using social networking sites to protect your personal information and prevent identity theft. For more tips, visit Visa Inc.’s free personal financial management site, Practical Money Skills for Life (www.practicalmoneyskills.com/security).

Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. Sign up for his free monthly e-Newsletter at www.practicalmoneyskills.com/newsletter.
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Visit with children a real eye-opener
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One of my favorite activities as a state senator is when I get to speak to students at our local schools. This year, I spoke to third-grade students at May Howard Elementary and Marshpoint Elementary in Chatham County and Button Gwinnett Elementary in Liberty County.
The students from each of the schools had been studying civics and were familiar with the three branches of government — executive, judicial and legislative. I explained my role as a senator in the legislative process and told the children how the citizen legislature in the state of Georgia works.
Presenting each of the schools with a Georgia state flag, I explained the three principles for which the state flag stands — wisdom, justice and moderation — and had them recite the pledge to the flag with me. 
The students at all three schools were bright, respectful and well-disciplined — a tribute to their families and especially to their teachers, who had prepared the students for my visit with ideas for great questions.
The students in Ms. Hutchinson’s class at Marshpoint Elementary were impressive in singing the preamble to the Constitution during my visit. What a great way to learn such an important part of our nation’s history — another wonderful example of the great job our teachers are doing.
I was delighted last week to receive thank-you letters from some of the students. Here are excerpts from a few of their letters:
 
Dear Mr. Carter,
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come speak to us. I learned so much! I learned that there are two kinds of Pledge of Allegiances. That is pretty cool.
Do you travel all over the world do you? I really like that you taught me more about the three branches of government.
— Megan
 
Dear Sen. Carter,
Thank you for telling us about your job and your favorite thing about your job. I liked the Georgia state flag. I still have more questions. Do you have to work on Saturday and Sunday? Are you the only one who makes the laws?
Yours truly,
Ryleigh 


Dear Sen. Buddy Carter,
Thank you for coming and letting us have a little bit of your time. I want you to know that I learned something new. The Georgia pledge! Justice, wisdom and modesty! Thanks again!
— Liam
 
Dear Sen. Buddy Carter,
Thank you for coming and helping us learn more about the government and some of your job. Thank you for giving us a Georgia flag. It was fun when you came. Thank you for giving us some questions so we could answer them.
P.S. Did you ride in a limousine? I was going to ask you a question but then I forgot. But now I remember. How many rooms are there where you work? You can send me a note if you can.
Your friend,
Erin
 
I’m uncertain whether the students learned as much from me during my visit as I learned from them. One thing that I was reminded of was the honesty that comes from the innocence of childhood. I wasn’t quite sure how to interpret some of the questions, such as the one asked in this letter:
 
Dear Sen. Carter,
I loved your speech. Thanks for coming to our school. I think my favorite part was when we held the flag. It was so fun! I have a question: How many people voted for you?
Sincerely,
Shelly
 
I also was more than a little concerned about a recurring question in the thank-you notes that was posed to me during one of my visits by a beautiful, brown-eyed girl who, with a very serious look on her face, asked “Did you ever get re-elected be-fore?”


What a great group of young people! My faith and hope in our future has been reassured. What an amazing job our families and teachers are doing on a daily basis to support and encourage our next generation. Thank you for your dedication to teaching our leaders of tomor-row.

Sen. Buddy Carter can be reached at Coverdell Legislative Office Building (C.L.O.B.) Room 301-A, Atlanta, GA, 30334. His Capitol office number is 404-656-5109

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