Social networking sites put youngsters’ careers at risk

The Information Commissioner’s Office has warned people against posting too much information on social networking sites. It says that young people could damage their future careers if they give out too many details.

The Information Commissioner’s Office has warned people against posting too much information on social networking sites. It says that young people could damage their future careers if they give out too many details.

The ICO has found that more than half of 14 to 21 year olds made most of their information public when asked. The survey, which questioned 2000 people, also found that 71% said they would not like colleagues or employers to search them before they had removed some details.

It has also warned that people are at risk of identity theft because of the content they post on sites such as MySpace and Facebook. The survey found that 60% of people post their birth dates, 25% give their job title and one in ten provide their home address.

ICO deputy commissioner David Smith says that people need to think about the “electronic footprint” they leave behind.