The swim star made an emotional apology yesterday after she tweeted ''Suck on that faggots!'' following the Wallabies' dramatic Tri-Nations weekend win over the Springboks early on Sunday.

But 22-year old Rice said she had not thought about ceasing to use the site, rather declaring she had to be more careful about what she posted.

''I think there's a lot of good that can come from social networking,'' Rice said.

''I think people can connect to people on a better level than what you read through media and things like that.

''So in some ways I think it's very good, but I've learned a huge lesson that you just have to be so careful with what you're saying and think before you say.

''Because what happens is out there for everyone to read and I guess everyone's entitled to their own opinion of what they read.''

Some sporting organisations have taken a hard-line stance following the advent of sites such as Twitter and Facebook in order to avoid such controversies.

A host of NRL clubs have educated their players about using such sites while the Netherlands football squad was banned from using Twitter at the recent World Cup after striker Eljero Elia made a racist slur against one of his friends.

Rice said the incident would change the way she used the site but she did not want to suppress her ''outgoing personality''.

''Obviously it's going to change things,'' Rice said.

''I've become so much more aware of how people can be affected by what I say or do.

''But at the same time I don't want to change who I am as a person ...

''It is very difficult and I think I have a pretty outgoing personality which sort of leaves me a bit more open to criticism.

''I think being a role model and being in the spotlight is a really big lesson ...

''I think everyone makes mistakes, It's just a shame I've hurt people through my mistake.''