Internet Safety

Never give your name, address, phone number, school name, birthday, photograph, or any other personal information to anyone online. Predators will do anything to gain access to your information and may use lures to do so. For example, they may say they need you to give them some information in order to gain access to a chat room or a site they are recommending to you. Don't fall for that! Or, they are smart enough to get information from your screen name. Often people use a birth date in their screen name. This gives these guys a way to find out how old you are and helps them figure out how to get to you.

People are not always who or what they say they are! You may think you are talking to someone your age, when in fact you may be talking to an adult who is trying to get information and gain access to you. You cannot tell whether you are talking to another kid or an adult when you are online.

The best thing to do is leave the site and tell an adult. In public chat rooms there is usually someone who monitors the chat and kicks those off who get out of hand. Private chat rooms aren't like that. Be Careful! If someone wants you to go to a private chat room from a public one, be aware. They usually want to talk with you about things they know the monitor won't allow them to talk about.

Never open a spam e-mail as this may automatically get you into a site or database for future inappropriate messages. Always know the sender before opening any e-mail.

Be concerned about persons who try to isolate you by turning you against friends and family members. This is a common tool that sexual predators use to get you to like them and not listen to your family or friends.

Always let a parent know if someone asks to meet you. If your parents feels this person is really someone your age that wants to become a friend, meet him or her in a public place with your parents. Never meet someone alone!!!! If your parents say no, trust them, they are only thinking of your safety, it's NO.

You may think that just the person you sent them to, even if they promised, will view your pictures. You don't know whom they or others who have access to their files will send them to. Rule of thumb, share pictures in person, not over the Internet.

It's not about hassling or limiting you; it's about keeping you safe. Some people online are not who they say they are. It's important to be aware, be wary, and be safe. That's what your parents are concerned about, your safety.