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Internet Survival Tips for Kids and Teens
1.
Never give any personal information to anyone you meet online.
That means first or last names, phone numbers (they can be used to
track down you home), passwords, birth dates or years, or credit
card information.
2.
Never meet up with anyone you don't already know. Don't tell
anyone your schedule; don't say where you'll be hanging out. No
party announcements. People are often not who they say they are.
It's true: 1 in 5 kids will be sexually solicited online.
3.
Don't fill out any "fun" questionnaires that are forwarded to you,
even if they're from your friends. Remember, you're in a world
where everything can get forwarded. All those personal things
about you could land in the hands of someone who could use them to
harm you.
4.
Make sure you know everyone on your buddy list. If you haven't met
the people face-to-face, they may not be who they pretend to be.
Also, Instant Messaging strangers is an invasion of their
privacy.
5.
You do not have to answer emails or IMs from people you don't
know. As a matter of fact, you shouldn't. Who knows who they are?
Even if they say they're "David's friend," David could be a lucky
guess. "Kids" you meet in chat rooms may actually be creepy
adults.
6.
There's no such thing as "private" on the Internet. You may think
so, but it's not true. People can find anything they want - and
keep what you post - forever.
7.
Be careful about posting pictures of yourself (if you must, don't
post sexy ones or ones showing behavior you wouldn't want your
mom, teacher, boss, or potential college advisor to see). Just
because an older sibling has posted snaps on a site doesn't make
it a smart or a safe idea. Pictures with identifiers like where
you go to school can be shopping lists for online predators and
other creeps.
8.
Don't send pictures of other people. Forwarding an embarrassing
picture of someone else is a form of bullying. How would you like
it if someone did that to you?
9.
Don't download content without your parents' permission. Many
sites have spyware that will damage your computer. Other sites
have really inappropriate content. Your parents can check your
computer's URL history, so you can't hide where you've been.
10.
Never share your password with anyone.
(Courtesy:
http://www.commonsense.com/internet-safety-tips/tips-for-kids.php
)
From CICRA |
