Most social networking websites permit users with Web access to create a personal profile and to view other user's profiles. But..are your personal details safe?

A large proportion of Web users are taken in by the friendliness and accessability of the social networking world and gladly publish very personal information about themselves online. Many are then shocked when that information is collected and used by other people. For example, young people posting their diaries online - and then become angered when they discover that their parents are reading it. Privacy in a public forum is a paradox by nature.

If you question the depth of this problem just take a few moments to browse a few social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. With a click of a mouse, information that you may have thought to be private is now public. The message is clear - it is critically important that you carefully consider what you include in your profile before publishing it.

This necessity for caution might take away a little of the fun in participating in social networking, but it will help protect your online privacy and prevent undesirables from knowing too much about you. For example, when creating your profile page - especially on a website that has unrestricted access - you should be cautious about the pictures that you post. If you publish a personal picture of yourself in the same place as you give your name and possibly your address you have provided just about everything required for someone to create a new identity.

If you participate in social networks make sure you understand about privacy settings so that you can limit the number of people who can view your online profile. Most social networking sites give you the opportunity to control who sees your profile and personal details, and this at least lets you distinguish between what you show your friends and what you show other people.

Some sites are more in tune with privacy issues than others e.g. Orkut and Facebook - where the default settings provide on your profile will only be seen by other members. This is to protect your safety online. However, as with many other SN websites, it is quite easy for you to find people online, make connections and build relationships, but in a safer, more controlled way.

Another way for getting in contact with people is to use FastAs People Search. With FastAs, you have the ability to specify how you are contacted and how often you are contacted. This is a rather unque service and ensures your online privacy is fully protected.