Countless people are aware of social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace or Twitter. Some of these people are ensnared in the vicious currents of these Web sites, struggling to keep their heads above the water.

If you feel lost when it comes to social networking, you are not alone. Numerous people, young and old, also are fighting to stay afloat. Of those few who understand how to navigate, an even smaller percentage know how to stay safe and remain unaffected by the dangers of these sites.

Understand that once you get on a social networking site, it may take up a lot of your time. You can post photos, but make sure you don’t embarrass anyone.

Also, understand that you can lose your job or get suspended from school for posting some things, says Carol Bowler, a graduate of Georgia Tech and president and CEO of Bowler Engineers, a transportation engineering consulting firm.

“It’s fun to connect with family and friends. And now we can chat, too,” she points out on a more positive note.

Many people are aware of the addicting properties of these social networking sites. Participation on these sites includes signing yourself up not just for the site itself but also for various obstacles.

To help navigate the online social jungle, NeXt has compiled a survival guide. These five basic rules will help to ensure that you and your peers have a fun and peaceful time while using the sites.

RuleNo. 1: Privacy settings.

There are people out in the cyber sea who spend their days fishing for information on young people. Unfortunately, social networking sites make it easier and more convenient for predators to access information on minors. Before you activate or use your account, remember to turn on or set privacy settings. On sites such as Facebook, users can choose who is allowed to view their profiles. Members who aren’t your friends can view your photos that are not protected by a privacy setting.

“Don’t tag a picture with too many people. Anyone can see this picture if it’s set in every-one’s tagged album,” said Kassidy Skingley, a freshman at Iroquois High School.

Understand what the automatic settings are on the site before you post something.

RuleNo. 2: To friend or not to friend?

Before you hit “accept” to that invite, ask yourself: Do I know this person? If you answer yes to that, then ask: Do I want them to view my personal information and updates? If you answer no to either question, ignore the friend invite, or don’t send an invite. A problem these sites can pose is that some people will feel insulted if you decline the invitation. Remember, whoever you add as a friend can view everything you write. Watch out for applications where you can write anonymous comments on people, because if you write something negative, others can find out who you are by either “purchasing” the answer on some applications, or through other methods such as contacting the application and complaining about cyber-bullying, where the application can release names.

One of these applications says, “We will never reveal who sent messages –unless, in our sole judgment, the content of a message violates our Terms of Use and/or Privacy Policy.”

Watch what you write. If it’s not nice, don’t write it at all.

RuleNo. 3:Knowwhat you’re sayingBEFOREyousay it.

If you own an account on a social networking site, you should be aware of two things: 1. Social networking sites help you connect with people, be it a long-lost friend or a close relative. 2. You can write something on a site, and one of your friends could misinterpret it. This can result in feuds and bad feelings.

Also keep in mind that colleges and employers look at this stuff. Believe it or not, there are ways around privacy settings for people who are dedicated. It’s simple: If you don’t want colleges or employers to see it, don’t post it.

RuleNo. 4:Don’t let peopleknow where youare.

Try to avoid posting your whereabouts, addresses, phone numbers. You may trust your friends, but other people can always be looking over someone’s shoulder, or viewing a profile if someone forgot to log off a public computer.

It’s never a good thing if a multitude of people know when you are home and when you aren’t. You can’t always be sure who your real friends are.

RuleNo. 5:Rememberto live.

Don’t be sucked into the social networking maelstrom. Remember to go out and see the sun! Social networking may seem to fulfill your day, but it won’t provide you with vitamin D. Fight social networking with social networking –message a friend to organize something or to go for a walk. Don’t let social networking rob you of your life. These Web sites create an illusion that you really are living, and maybe your social life is blooming, but what about your personal life? Don’t forget to buy your best friend a present because you were on Facebook all day.

Katherine Cass is a freshman at Iroquois High School.