Social networking has become a major phenomenon on the World Wide Web and this trend is only going to continue.

Facebook and My Space have been popular for some time — and now sites such as Second Life are adding a new dimension with the creation of entire new worlds.

All of these places can be fun, but there are dangers lurking for those who post personal information or are careless about whom they meet in the real world.

It's clear that social networks allow you to express yourself, keep in touch with old friends and make new ones. Sites such as Second Life allow you to create an "avatar" — a graphic representation of yourself — that further allows you to express who you are or who you want to be.

What can be so wrong with that? Plenty, if you are not careful.

Some folks get so wrapped up in social networking that they toss caution to the wind and end up providing personal information any stalker, pedophile or criminal can exploit.

Here are some things to remember when using these social networks.

- Never post personal information that can identify you — such as phone number, address, the name of your school or, if you are an adult, the place where you work. In fact, it might be a good idea to allow a parent, guardian or trusted personal friend review the information you are about to post to make sure that you are not disclosing something that might identify you.

- Your information and your account are accessed by a password. Never give that password to anyone other than your parent or guardian if you are a minor. In fact, parents or guardians should insist that they have their child's user name and password.

- Before posting a photo, remember that these should not have revealing information such as school names or locations or scenery that could identify where you live or work. It's easy to post a picture with the name of a mall, license plates, signs or the name of a sports team without realizing it.

- Don't respond to harassing or rude comments — and if the comments continue, report them to the networking site.

- Remember that posting information about your friends can put them in jeopardy, as well. Don't post their names, passwords, location or anything else. And don't post plans for upcoming social events, especially locations.

- Report immediately when someone asks you for personal information, photos or videos. Also report anyone who wants to send you child pornography, which is illegal under U.S. law. And above all, do not receive child pornography — and, if you accidentally receive it, report it to authorities immediately.

There are few restraints on the social networking phenomenon and the situation is unlikely to change. The only defense you have against stalkers and those who might want to do you harm is you. Remember that every time you visit one of these social networking locations.

Bush utterances

Regardless of whether you're a George W. Bush fan, you have to admit that he's been tongue-tied on more than one occasion. That's why there's DubyaSpeak at http://www.dubyaspeak.com. The originators of this site have collected more than 3,000 public utterances from President Bush and list them by category. Or, if you like, you can click on a button that gives you a random quote from our president.

Flight information

FlightArrivals at http://www.flightarrivals.com offers departure times and arrival times for most scheduled airline flights in the U.S. and Canada. Flights are updated every four minutes. You select a city/airport if you don't know the flight number and you'll be assisted in your search. Delays and cancellations are also reported.

All about germs

Microorganisms, commonly known as germs, are living cells so small that most can only be seen with a microscope. About Germs at http://www.aboutgerms.com provides lots of information about these critters, as well as a section that provides information on substances that kill them. It's a good source of basic information for everyone.

— Find something online you think others should know about? Or do you have a question? Let Dave Peyton know. His e-mail address is davepeyton@davepeyton.com.