Farewell Facebook!

For some time now, I have been considering shutting down my Facebook page. I’ve always been leery of the ability of less than desirable people to access my personal information and, as a result, I rarely use the site as anything more than an outlet for my writing. I don’t post family pictures or travel plans or updates on my husband and children. If you know me well enough to know I have a husband and children, then you probably have my phone number. Call me and we’ll talk!

Four years ago, when MySpace was still a popular networking site, I did follow the crowd and broadcast the minutia of my life to the world. Then, my daughter was raped and the state prosecutor’s office advised that we close our accounts. We were told that the attacker’s family, friends and even lawyer might try to use the information against us. Bye, bye MySpace.

After the trial and conviction of Jess’ assailant, I got stupid. I don’t know why, but for some unfathomable reason, I did not connect the danger possible with MySpace to Facebook. Last week, my naiveté slapped me hard, offering a loud and clear, “Wake up!”  Through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, I took a 32 hour Victim Services Practitioner Designation Training course. The course offered seminars in various aspects of violent crime including child abuse, adult sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking, identity theft and cyber crime.

Cyber crime – WOW! What an eye opener! Taught by trained Special Agent chosen by the Office of the Attorney General, the class left me feeling numb and, in no small measure, horrified. Do you know how long it takes for a pedophile to find and engage your child on a social networking site? TWO MINUTES! Yes, just two minutes and your son or daughter could be exposed to a pervert with a webcam who gets his jollies by masturbating online. Do you post pictures of your infant and very young children on your page? I don’t want to frighten you, but those photos could be serving as sexual release for some very sick people.

Our children, especially those who are pre-teen and early teens, are so unaware that danger is lurking and waiting patiently for them in the deep, dark reaches of cyber space. Adults are no less victimized. Tell your “friends” about your trip to the Grand Canyon, and you could come home to an empty house. Tell your “friends” about your husband’s business trip to Kenya, and you could find yourself on the receiving end of a machete (as my daughter did).

I don’t have the actual statistics on how often sites like MySpace and Facebook are culpable in crime, but the figures are high – very high. So, not wanting to be stupid any longer, I am bidding you all a fond farewell. I will miss your funny anecdotes and insightful commentary on the plight of the world, but I would miss being alive a lot more. I almost lost my daughter. I don’t plan on giving another criminal another chance.

Be well. Be happy. Be safe. Be smart.

On another topic: If you are in the habit of using your debit card to make purchases – whether in local stores or online – DON’T! The use of skimmers and scanners by identity thieves is becoming so prevalent that law enforcement cannot keep up. Protect yourself!