Tips for Kids

Be careful who you trust online and remember that online friends are really strangers. People online, no matter how long you have been talking to them or how friendly they are, may not be who they say they are. 

Meeting someone you have only been in touch with online can be dangerous. If you feel that you ‘have to’ meet, then for your own safety you must tell your parent or carer and take them with you – at least on the first visit – and meet in a public place in daytime. 

Stay in charge in chat. Keep your personal information secret when chatting online (name, address, telephone number, mobile number, private email address, picture), even if people ask for this. Although It can be tempting to reveal more than you normally would in online friendships, giving out personal information can make you vulnerable. 

Check your profile and make sure it doesn’t include any personal information (name, address, telephone number, mobile number, private email address, picture). 

Get away from an unpleasant situation in a chatroom by logging out (this just takes one click) or by changing your screen name. 

Think before you answer private messages. It can be harder to end a conversation in a private chat than in a public chat. A private chat may end up being more personal than you like. 

Use a nickname, not your real name, and a nickname that is not going to attract the wrong type of attention. 

Look out for your friends and do something if you think that they are at risk. 

Tell your parent or carer if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable or worried. 

Learn how to keep/save a copy of the conversation in chat – this may be useful if you want to report something.

Learn how to block/ignore people. 

Check you know how to report something you feel uncomfortable about to the chatroom provider or moderator. 

 HYPERLINK "http://www.chatdanger.com/chat/safetyadvice.aspx" http://www.chatdanger.com/chat/safetyadvice.aspx

Don't give out information about yourself like your last name, your phone number, where you live, or where you go to school - without asking your parents first. 

Never e-mail a picutre of yourself to strangers.

If somebody says something to you, sends you something, or you see something that makes you uncomfortable, don't look around or explore; get your parents instead - they know what to do. 

Making plans to meet your Internet buddies in real life is usually a really bad idea - how people are in real life can be very different from how they are online. If you decide to do it anyway, have your Mom or Dad help make the plans and go with you. 

Don't open up e-mails, files, or Web pages that you get from people you don't really know or trust. 

Don't ever give out your password, except to responsible adults in your family. 

Always follow your family's rules for the Internet - they're there to make sure you have fun and stay safe online. 

Don't ever do anything that could cost your family money unless your parents are there to help you do it.

 HYPERLINK "http://kids.getnetwise.org/safetyguide/kids" http://kids.getnetwise.org/safetyguide/kids

Never give out personal information (such as name, age, address, phone number, school, town, password, schedule, your picture) or fill out questionnaires or any forms online. 

Never meet in person with anyone you have met online without Mom and/or Dad's presence. 

Do not enter a chat room without Mom and/or Dad's presence or supervision. Some “kids” you meet in chat rooms may not really be kids; they may be adults with bad intentions. Remember, people may not be who they say they are. 

Be suspicious of anyone who tries to turn you against your parents, teachers, or friends. They may have a hidden agenda. 

Never respond to or send email or instant message to new people you meet online. Talk to your parents first so that they can check it out. Also, do not engage in an online conversation that makes you feel uncomfortable. Log off and tell your parents. If you get such a message, DO NOT respond. Sending a response only encourages the person. Instead, show it to your parents and let them handle it. 

 HYPERLINK "http://www.protectkids.com/parentsafety/imchatips.htm" http://www.protectkids.com/parentsafety/imchatips.htm