I was asked to write a basic guide to privacy settings on Bebo for parents of older children at my son’s school, and I am sharing a version here in hope it helps a few people understand what they need to do to make their Bebo experience a little more private.

Bebo have a pretty good online safety page so view the video’s here, as no point in me repeating the same advice. Check out the Bebo safety videos, here.

Ok let’s start by saying Bebo is meant for folk who are 13 years or older, but of course there are hundreds of thousands of kids younger than this using Bebo, so if they are going to use it they might as well be safer when they do so.

Bebo Privacy Page Location

After you log on to Bebo (1) select the link in the black bar “settings” and then (2) click the link “Privacy Settings”. See Image below.

Bebo Privacy Page Options

I have made a screen shot of my recommended privacy settings, below but I will take you through each step here also.

Profile Viewable By: My friends only.

Contact Age: You decide the max and min here, personally if you have all the other settings done I wouldn’t bother too much with this one.

Age: (Tick This Box)

Profile Views: (Tick This Box)

Online Now: (Un-Tick This Box)

Member Since: You decide here as it’s doesn’t matter that much.

Searchable: (Un-Tick This Box)

Posting: (Tick This Box)

Review Comments: (Select) Review all comments.

Applications: (Un-Tick This Box)

That is basic steps to setting up your privacy page on Bebo, below are some additional tips that I hope help.

Friends Tip – Don’t approve everyone, don’t approve people you do not know. Stick to approving your family and friends only, strangers are strangers no matter what age they are or say they are.

Location Tip – It’s really best that you don’t give out your location, what school you attend, year you’re in and so on. Having younger sister-in-laws I know fine well they give out far too much information, so it’s best you know who your Bebo friends are.

Photo Tip – Any photo you post online can be taken and used by anyone without your permission. Be sure you really want to post that image of you in a bikini or that funny photo where you dressed up. Harmless photo for friends and family to see, but what if someone printed it off, then handed it out around school? Think about what you want others you don’t know so well to see.

Additional Tip For Parents – I personally would make it a condition that my son/daughter had me as the parent listed as a friend in their profile so I could easily check what information they are posting online via Bebo. Some people will see that as a privacy invasion, so have to go with whatever view you as a family hold.

If you have any other tips on privacy and staying safe using Bebo please comment, as I would love to hear them.