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    00:00:02 What can you do on a social network? 00:00:05 You can connect with people; 00:00:07 (a lot of people) 00:00:11 share your photos; 00:00:15 tell jokes; 00:00:18 post your thoughts on, 00:00:20 well, just about anything; 00:00:23 And see what all your friends are up to. 00:00:25 It’s pretty easy 00:00:27 —and that’s the problem. 00:00:29 Sometimes it’s a little too easy. 00:00:33 You see, a social network may look harmless, 00:00:36 but once you log in, 00:00:38 watch out! 00:00:40 It could be a dangerous place. 00:00:44 So if your parents allow you to have an account, 00:00:47 you have to be smart, 00:00:49 social-network smart. 00:00:51 Follow the front-page rule. 00:00:53 Don’t post anything 00:00:55 that you wouldn’t want to see on the TV news 00:00:57 or the front page of the newspaper. 00:01:00 And that includes personal information like 00:01:04 your phone number, 00:01:06 where you live, 00:01:08 and where you go to school. 00:01:11 Never tell people when you’re not home 00:01:13 or when you’re going on vacation. 00:01:15 It may seem harmless, 00:01:18 but that’s exactly the kind of information 00:01:21 thieves can use to break into your house 00:01:24 or even steal your identity! 00:01:27 Now let’s look at your reputation. 00:01:31 Your photos and comments say a lot about you. 00:01:34 So, if you’ve made a fool of yourself, ask, 00:01:38 ‘Is this how I really want people to view me 00:01:41 —not just now but in the future, 00:01:43 like at a job interview?’ 00:01:46 At Proverbs 22:1, 00:01:48 the Bible says a good reputation 00:01:50 is ‘worth more than silver and gold.’ 00:01:54 Don’t let that Delete key fool you. 00:01:56 Posting something on any social network 00:01:59 is kind of like writing in permanent ink. 00:02:04 OK, so you’re careful about what you share. 00:02:08 Now think about who you’re sharing it with. 00:02:11 Who are your friends? 00:02:13 Some people have hundreds of online friends. 00:02:15 Some have thousands. 00:02:18 So you may think, ‘The more friends, the better, right?’ 00:02:21 Actually, no! 00:02:23 That kind of thinking can blow up in your face. 00:02:28 You see, when you connect with online friends, 00:02:31 you are also indirectly connecting with their friends 00:02:35 And their friends’ friends. 00:02:37 That means you may find yourself seeing posts 00:02:41 from people you don’t even know 00:02:43 —people whose morals and beliefs may be different from yours. 00:02:46 They may use bad language 00:02:48 or post about things you know are wrong. 00:02:52 Those just aren’t the kind of friends you want to hang around with 00:02:55 —not even online. 00:02:58 And there’s another danger. 00:03:00 At Psalm 26:4, 00:03:02 the Bible warns about people “who hide what they are.” 00:03:05 They pretend to be someone they are not 00:03:08 and may seem super friendly, 00:03:12 but they can be dangerous. 00:03:17 So when it comes to friends, you need to be picky. 00:03:22 The safest friends online 00:03:24 are ones you already know offline. 00:03:27 There’s one more thing to think about: 00:03:29 It has to do with your time. 00:03:31 Checking out the latest posts can be addictive. 00:03:36 So let’s set some limits, 00:03:39 and don’t let your online life 00:03:41 get in the way of your real life. 00:03:45 You know, connecting with others online 00:03:48 can be fun and safe 00:03:50 as long as you look out for all the dangers. 00:03:56 So the next time you log in, be smart, 00:03:59 social-network smart.