Online Safety

Follow these basic guidelines to make sure that all of your online experiences are safe and positive ones!

1. Don’t give out personal information like your last name, your address or your phone number. You wouldn’t give that kind of information to a stranger on the street, so don’t give it to a stranger online.
   
   
2. If you’ve got a bad feeling about something, ask for help. Is there an upsetting email in your inbox? Have you surfed your way onto a website that’s giving you the creeps? Did someone say something confusing to you online? When you’ve got a problem in life, your parents, guardians and other trusted adults are there to help you and protect you. The same goes for online problems. Adults know how to handle this stuff, so don’t try to go it alone.
   
   
3. Never make plans to meet someone you don’t know. Online buddies are not the same as your real-life friends. Lots of girls share their problems and give advice in chats and on message boards. When you get support from people on the internet, it’s pretty easy to feel close to them. That doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to take those online friendships offline. This can be a very dangerous situation. If an online buddy is asking to meet you, talk to your parents or another adult you trust.
   
   
4. Don’t believe everything you read or see online. Whether you’re writing a paper or looking for photos of your favorite band, the internet offers tons of information right at your fingertips. The problem is that not all of that information is 100% reliable or accurate. Visit the links sections of websites you like to see what they recommend. Trust your instincts. If something seems wrong, check with another source.
   
   
5. Don’t do anything online that costs money without asking your parents first. If there’s something you want to buy, talk to a parent and get her/his permission.
   
   
6. Keep your passwords private. Don’t share your passwords with anyone except for a parent, guardian or trusted adult. Like the key to your diary, passwords are designed to protect your information and keep it for your eyes only.