I've eventually read through all this and its very true, but at the same time, I don't think we all need to majorlly panic, just keep our wits about us, particularly the older ones amoung us.
Think back to the last time you went out and had a couple of beverages, I bet you told at least one person as much as you've said here and thought nothing of it-not to mention the random photos. Provided you don't then jump into that persons arms and run away with them you can probably put some safety barriers in there, but you need to remember that you must do the same online.
I remember a few years back (I must have been about 14) some woman rang up very upset asking for me. My mum exlained I was out and asked if she could help. Apparently I was havign an affair with her OH and had split them up whiklst she was carrying his baby. Now I have NO idea who that was, the only thing we could guess was that it was someone I'd got chatting to online, I think in my innocence and with a gaggle of friends around me I may have given out my number, and she knew my name (not hard to assertain). Thankfully nothing ever came of it, mainly I guess because it wasn't true, but it was a lesson well learnt.