Be Safe Using Instant Messenger Online

Communication and the sharing of information is what the Internet seems to be all about and these things both continue to grow. You can find articles and web sites on every topic imaginable, and some about things you never imagined on your own. You can also find a few different yet very effective ways to communicate. While nothing will ever replace face to face interaction, the Internet is a great way to communicate when someone is not close and you want to talk other than on the phone. You can use email, but instant messenger online is much more satisfying for real time conversation.

There are many different instant messenger online services that you can find. They all work in the same way, so get the one that you think others you want to talk with are using or perhaps one that you have heard good things about in the past. For some, you have to download the service, and for others, the service is included in a personal profile that you can sign up for rather easily. Either way, once you have it working you can contact anyone else who uses it if you know their user name. Most have a search so you can find others using that particular messenger too.

As fun as instant messenger online can be, you do have to be careful. Remember that all of them have the option of being turned off when you are not using them. This is great for privacy reasons or for when you log on to your computer just to do a few quick things but you do not have time to talk. Otherwise, people see you on and assume you have time to talk. You also have to think about who you let onto your buddy list. If you add people you do not know very well, you could get yourself into trouble.

Not everyone is who they seem to be. Some will go around and make up user names and entire identities and then sweet talk strangers on instant messenger online. They tell a sad story and they will wait for someone to offer to help them. They want money and they usually find people who will fall for their story and that will send it to them. It happens more often than you can imagine. Do not let this happen to you. Even if someone you know seems to need help, verify this by calling them on the phone. Someone could have hacked into their account and asked you to send money without the person you know having any idea about what is happening.

Do not let your children use instant messenger online without checking up on them and the latest lingo that goes with online communications. Child predators use instant messenger online to find targets or to reach them after seeing them in person, and kids bully other kids from school through this type of technology. Know who your children are talking to and keep up on the latest initials. When you see your child typing something like POS (parent over shoulder) make sure you search online to find out what it means. You are not being nosy. You are keeping them safe.