In this blog post, we discuss 7 topics that teens shouldn't share on social media. In today's world of social networking and information sharing, both adults and kids often times forget to think twice about what they share online.

Here are 7 items teens should not share on social media:

1. Your Home Address

Your real friends will know where you live because they have probably been to your house. Leave this information out of your social media profiles. It’s just not necessary, and puts you at risk.

2. Your Phone Number

Give your phone number out only to the people who you want contacting you. Sharing information can seem safe and friendly on whichever site you like to use, but be aware that your profile can be viewed all over the internet. The only secure data is that which is not posted.

3. Your Mom’s Maiden Name

Social media sites are increasingly more and more like online people directories. Share your favorite photos, share your favorite quotes, share your thoughts and dreams...but keep personal security information like your mother’s maiden name offline.

4. The Names of Your Pets

This one may be harder to do because it seems like everyone loves posting images of their cat, dog, fish, or bird for others to admire. But think to yourself--how much information would you feel comfortable with having a relative stranger know about you? Pets names are routinely used as a part of people's passwords. By sharing this information, it makes it easier for someone to potentially hack your accounts.

5. Checking In

No one needs to know where you are every minute of the day. If you’re with your friends and want others to join you, whip out your phone and text them! Or better yet, tell them the next time you contact them how great a time you had at Barry’s Eatery and how much you’d love to see them for the next rendezvous.

6. Details About Legal Issues

Just because you can share it, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. If you need convincing, read the news about a dad losing 80K over his daughter's Facebook post. We know teens these days are smart, but sometimes it’s easy to forget that there are still serious legal ramifications to public information sharing.

7. Too Many Details About Your Personal Life

Keep relationships that matter to you mostly off-line. That’s where they exist, anyway. Many times issues arise by posting something he didn’t want shared with the world, or by saying something inappropriate that she accidentally stumbled upon. The personal relationships we cultivate are still most important in real life, and easiest to understand that way.As an added bonus, here's a video of Josh Ochs outlining how teens & tweens can get in trouble on Facebook. He shows parents and educators why they need to talk to kids and remind them not to check in at home, not to let them share when their parents are out of town, not to check in when on vacation, not to share your dog's name, etc.http://youtu.be/qVffA1qvORI What tips do you have to keep kids safe and smart social media? Share in the comments below.