Internet SafetyInternet SafetyInternet Survival Tips for Kids Internet Survival Tips for Kids

and Teensand Teens

Never give any personal information to Never give any personal information to anyone you meet online.anyone you meet online. That means That means first or last names, phone numbers (they first or last names, phone numbers (they can be used to track down you home), can be used to track down you home), passwords, birth dates or years, or credit passwords, birth dates or years, or credit card information.card information.

Never meet up with anyone you don't Never meet up with anyone you don't already know.already know. Don't tell anyone your Don't tell anyone your schedule; don't say where you'll be schedule; don't say where you'll be hanging out. No party announcements. hanging out. No party announcements. People are often not who they say they People are often not who they say they are. It's true: 1 in 5 kids will be targeted on are. It's true: 1 in 5 kids will be targeted on line.line.

Don't fill out any "fun" questionnaires Don't fill out any "fun" questionnaires that are forwarded to you, even if that are forwarded to you, even if they're from your friends.they're from your friends. Remember, Remember, you're in a world where everything can get you're in a world where everything can get forwarded. All those personal things about forwarded. All those personal things about you could land in the hands of someone you could land in the hands of someone who could use them to harm you.who could use them to harm you.

Make sure you know everyone on your Make sure you know everyone on your buddy list.buddy list. If you haven't met the people If you haven't met the people face-to-face, they may not be who they face-to-face, they may not be who they pretend to be. Also, Instant Messaging pretend to be. Also, Instant Messaging strangers is an invasion of their privacy.strangers is an invasion of their privacy.

You do not have to answer emails or You do not have to answer emails or IMs from people you don't know.IMs from people you don't know. As a As a matter of fact, you shouldn't. Who knows matter of fact, you shouldn't. Who knows who they are? Even if they say they're who they are? Even if they say they're "David's friend," David could be a lucky "David's friend," David could be a lucky guess. "Kids" you meet in chat rooms may guess. "Kids" you meet in chat rooms may actually be creepy adults.actually be creepy adults.

There's no such thing as "private" on There's no such thing as "private" on the Internet.the Internet. You may think so, but it's not You may think so, but it's not true. People can find anything they want true. People can find anything they want — and keep what you post — forever. — and keep what you post — forever.

Be careful about posting pictures of yourself Be careful about posting pictures of yourself (if you must, don't post risky ones or ones (if you must, don't post risky ones or ones showing behavior you wouldn't want your showing behavior you wouldn't want your mom, teacher, boss, or potential college mom, teacher, boss, or potential college advisor to see).advisor to see). Just because an older sibling Just because an older sibling has posted snaps on a site doesn't make it a has posted snaps on a site doesn't make it a smart or a safe idea. Pictures with identifiers like smart or a safe idea. Pictures with identifiers like where you go to school can be shopping lists for where you go to school can be shopping lists for online predators and other creeps. online predators and other creeps.

Don't send pictures of other people.Don't send pictures of other people. Forwarding an embarrassing picture of Forwarding an embarrassing picture of someone else is a form of bullying. How someone else is a form of bullying. How would you like it if someone did that to would you like it if someone did that to you?you?

Don't download content without your Don't download content without your parents' permission.parents' permission. Many sites have Many sites have spyware that will damage your computer. spyware that will damage your computer. Other sites have really inappropriate Other sites have really inappropriate content. Your parents can check your content. Your parents can check your computer's URL history, so you can't hide computer's URL history, so you can't hide where you've been.where you've been.

Never share your password with Never share your password with anyone but your parents.anyone but your parents.

Remember that as frustrating as your Remember that as frustrating as your parents are on this subject, they're only parents are on this subject, they're only trying to keep you safe.trying to keep you safe.

Retrieved from: Common Sense MediaRetrieved from: Common Sense Media

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