Are the benefits of social networking sites worth their risks?

I've found that while social networking sites are wonderful for those of a specific mindset, others find them increasingly frustrating and when accounts start getting hacked, messages start getting sent without peoples knowledge and families start getting threatened, all of which we agree to when we agree to the terms of service, I find myself wondering if it's worth it to give up my privacy to find those three or four people I liked in high school or want to talk to outside work/school hours.. In short, are the benefits of these sites worth the risks?





No. this is not an invitation to spam all the ones that pay .0000000001 cents per visit (only if you have 5000 people in your downline). Spam answers will NOT get my vote for best answer!

Are the benefits of social networking sites worth their risks?
As a computer repair person I find a lot of clients use a social networking website. I find that these people are looking for friends or are using it as a way to keep friends and family informed as to what is happening in their life (blog). As a repair person I find that a percentage of my virus / spy infections come from social networking sites (myspace) currently is the worse as far as security for their registered users or visitor to their site, individual persons pages has so much malicious script running on them (behind the scenes) that once you visit their page your infected.





I for one do not advocate using a social networking site, if your need to inform the world as to what your doing or as a sad attempt to make friends you can either obtain yourself a domain name and web host and make yourself a website by using the WYSIWYG editors that come with some hosting companies or you can obtain a Google account and use their free Page Creator which will publish information at no cost, which is more secure than what I've found at social networking sites.





I take my online security very seriously and my clients learn after they have been compromised. The spyware that comes with Facebook and MySpace is a hackers dream come true, so many sitting ducks, until they learn their personal data has been breached, address book, bank accounts, broker accounts, credit data, social security numbers are now in the hands of ??? and you the one who has been violated has minimal recourse. If you care to visit these sites I hope you have a very good security suite software and firewall installed and up to date on your PC or servers, you'll note these sites are banned at most work place and schools. In closing to answer your question my answer is NO. My privacy and security mean more to me than exposing myself on the www.
Reply:hell no!!!!!!!
Reply:Yes, I think its worth it. You just gotta know what things on sites such as MySpace are spam. Its really not that hard to decipher whats a spam link and whats not. Like, "Ohmygod Becky, read this blog! I can't believe they said that!" Obviously spam. Some people just.. well... they're kids, and end up clicking the link anyway. So I think its a good place for older teens and adults, but kids... no.
Reply:I believe you can make your profile private so people cant see your information unless you have them on your friends list. Accounts usually get hacked by someone you know that watches you enter your password. Change it often ( but dont forget it) and you will be fine.