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"Online Safety" has become a catch phrase for the new millenium. Whether you are a teen or an adult you must be careful when you are online. It is back to school time and that is a good time to recap the basics of staying safe on the web.
Obey your parents rules, even if you think they are lame or silly. You have to trust that they are doing the right thing. Know that TRUST between you and your folks is the BEST protection you will ever have ~ on the internet AND in the real world!
NEVER give out:
- Your full name, your last name
- Your parents' full names, your friend's full names, your teacher's name
(If your teacher's name is Mrs. Jones, just call her "Mrs. J") - Your home address
- The addresses of your friends or family
- Your phone number
- Your friends or family's phone numbers
- Your personal e-mail address or any address you are not sure is safe
(certain e-mail addresses are safe, more on this later) - Anyone else's e-mail address
- The name of your city or town
- Your school name or address
- The names of any teams or clubs you belong to
- Any passwords you have or know
These things are safe give out:
- Your first name or a nickname that does not give away your last name
- The country you live in, or (at the most), the region in the country (like your home state or province)
- An e-mail address that your parents have screened for public use
(It is a good idea to get your parents to help you set up a secure e-mail address that you will know is safe to use ~ free e-mail accounts are good for this) - Anything that does not divulge your offline identity and how to find you
NEVER ever put your picture on the internet OR let somebody else put it on the internet unless your parents say it is all right. Don't download any files on to the family computer without your parents help or permission.
NEVER, never ever agree to meet an online "friend" somewhere in the real world. Let your parents know if you want to meet someone and let them decide if it is safe and reasonable... then take them with you. This is THE ONLY safe way to do this!
Don't believe everything a person you meet on the internet says about themselves. Think about how easy it is for you to "fake it" on line and remember it is just as easy for everybody else to do the same. Even if somebody says they are a peer, remember that they can very easily lie and don't be fooled.
If ANYBODY on the internet says or does something that scares or bothers you, stop talking to them right a way, never talk to them again, and TELL YOUR PARENTS OR AN ADULT YOU TRUST RIGHT AWAY
If ANYBODY online threatens you, your family, or anybody else TELL YOUR PARENTS, THE WEBPAGE ADMINISTRATOR AND THE POLICE
Remember it is always better to be safe than to be sorry!
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