Recommendations for putting on the site for users as Guidelines

Uploading Content

One of the best things about social networking is that you can `upload` your content online - including images, videos and music that you have created yourself. This can be a lot of fun. But again, there are some things to think about before you do this.

• Remember, the World Wide Web is available to everyone, and if your profile is public, everyone can see everything you post about yourself and your friends.
• Be aware of how your content could be used or misused by others. For example, pictures can be copied, or altered and posted elsewhere. You may not even know this has happened. And if you do find out about it, you may not be able to stop it or remove it.

Guard your online reputation

• Information you post will reflect the kind of person you are, and it will influence what others think of you. What is your content saying about you?
• Think carefully before uploading content and sharing information that shows you or your friends in a compromising situation - for example images of friends drinking at a party.
• Don`t post images of yourself posing in a sexual or provocative way. These can cause you a lot of embarrassment or upset if misused by others in a way you didn`t anticipate, and could attract a lot of unwanted and unwelcome inappropriate contact.
• Also, ask your friends first, if they are identified in the content. Protect your friends and family: they have reputations too!
• It important to understand that you are not anonymous online. You can be traced even if you gave a fake email account and registration information. Every computer and device connected to the Internet has a unique address (given by your Internet service provider). This is linked to your computer in the real world - to your real-world address. The police, and some others, can access this address, and it is linked to every communication you send online.

Consider your friends

• Remember that what may seem funny to you can actually can be very hurtful and offensive to others - so `think before you post` comments on other people`s webspaces.
• You know how easy it is to upload images and videos `on the go` using your mobile. Think carefully before you post so you don`t embarrass yourself or your friends.
• Don`t post content that may be seen as racist, homophobic, bullying or threatening. Remember, these sorts of behaviours could result in your account being deleted by your service provider, and the police may even get involved.
• Try not to bring disagreements or arguments with people that you know in real life into the online community.
• Setting up a fake page to pose as someone else may seem a clever way to embarrass the person you are impersonating. But this can have very serious consequences - to the other person and, in fact, to yourself, as the police may become involved.
• Remember to be a good friend and, if your friends are behaving inappropriately, remind them that they are not anonymous and can be traced.

Copyright - get permission

• Copyright is the protection given to authors (of writing, images, video or music). It protects them from other people copying their work without permission. It is important to respect this.
• If you download or copy something from the Internet without permission, there can be serious consequences, including from the police.
• You can use a Creative Commons licence to make your own creative work freely available to others. For example, you can change your copyright terms from `all rights reserved` to `some rights reserved`. See http://creativecommons.org.

Respect the online community

People online love interactions that are interesting, funny and witty; this contributes to making the Internet entertaining for everyone. There are also some ways to show your respect for other people online.

• Respect what other people contribute and the time and effort they have put into creating and sharing content.
• The Internet is a very public place, so personal disagreements can quickly get out of control. This may result in public humiliation, hurt or distress beyond what you ever intended.

Just don`t take it! - Reporting abuse and seeking advice and help

• If problems or difficulties happen on the Internet, use the tools provided on the service to block, ignore, filter or report these to your service provider, for example the social networking provider.
• You will find contact information from your social networking provider. They should have links to sources of expert help and advice on pages titled `Help`, `Customer care` or `Report abuse`.