I have always been aware of the importance of implementing certain measures to browse the Internet safely. However, today more than ever I have realized this because I have seen many problems of this type up close.

The Internet User Security Office (OSI) of INTECO, an entity belonging to the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, was created to help internet users understand the dangers that exist on the Internet and how to avoid them. If you have been affected by any of them, they will show you the steps to follow.

They explain basic and important things such as configuring the privacy settings of our social media profiles. When we open an account on a social network, it asks us to enter certain personal information that, together with the rest of the contributions we make, can reveal a lot about us. Therefore, we must maintain appropriate privacy levels to safeguard our personal information. Only the people we choose should be able to access it to prevent the misuse of our personal data, photos, videos, etc. by third parties.

We knew that Facebook was going to change user profiles to the “Facebook Timeline” model at the end of March, but the advice about Facebook that the OSI gave me on how to adapt our privacy settings to these changes has been very helpful. Similarly, I have learned very interesting aspects about Google+, since, being a newer social network, we have the opportunity to start using it without errors and thus enjoy the circles we create without problems. Reading these and all their advice on privacy in social networks, we have learned aspects that we were unaware of and that we are already putting into practice.

Talking about social networks with the OSI, we have reached the crucial topic of the use that children and young people give to them. In reality, in Spain the current legislation allows only children who are 14 years old or older to open profiles on these pages. However, and unfortunately, this is not always complied with.

In the case of minors, for whom these networks are very popular, there is concern that their lack of knowledge and good faith may be exploited to abuse their trust.

For this reason, the OSI has created a specific page, http://menores.osi.es/, so that young people learn that the Internet is a wonderful tool, but that, in order not to suffer the negative side it also has, they must be very attentive and learn from parents and teachers.

Minors’ introduction to the world of new technologies should always be accompanied by adults who, as in other aspects of life, guide, direct and teach them. This page they have created is very interesting, as it differentiates children and young people into 3 audiences, ages 5-8, 9-12 and 13-17, and speaks to each one in their “language” with videos, games and specific information. They also have a section for parents and another for educators, so that adults learn to help minors and know how to make them aware of the need to have good habits on the Internet.

We recommend that you follow the OSI both on their website, http://www.osi.es, and through their social networks Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google+… If we put their advice into practice, we will all succeed in making the Internet a safe place.