Online Personal Safety Tips

Rules of the Road

Don’t give out identifying information on the Internet. These are things like your full name, address, age, school, and phone number.

Review your screen name and see if it reveals too much information about you.

Check your profile. You may be displaying information about yourself that predators can use.

Screen your buddy list. Do you really know who’s on there?

Some people lie on the Internet. Unless you know the person, don’t believe that pictures sent to you are the actual person you are chatting with.

Take a stand. Don’t be afraid to say no and log off.

Tell a trusted adult or police officer if you or a friend gets into a dangerous situation!

Be aware of strangers asking too many personal questions and trying to become friends quickly.

Learn and practice the 4 R’s of Internet safety:

RECOGNIZE-techniques used by online preditors to deceive their victims.

REFUSE-requests for personal information.

RESPOND-assertively if you are ever in an uncomfortable situation while online. Exit the program,log off or turn off the coumputer, and notify your ISP (Internet Service Provider) or local law enforcment.

REPORT-to law enforcement authorities, any suspicious or dangerous contact that makes uyou uncomfortable

Cyber Bullying Awareness Tips

Boys are as likely as girls to be targeted for threats or efforts to humiliate them on the Internet

Gender does not affect a child’s online risk profile.

i-SAFE America has created this list of Internet safety tips to help your family recognize online danger and take the appropriate steps to protect yourselves

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  Don’t open/read messages from cyber bullies
  Your child can’t be intimidated by messages from cyber bullies they never open. Teach your child to curb his or her curiosity to read and respond to a message if they suspect or know a cyber bully has sent.


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  Encourage your child to tell an adult
  For some children, their reaction to being bullied is not only fright, but also confusion about how to react appropriately. Coach your child to tell a trusted adult if they are ever being bullied.


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  Report cyber bullying
  Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can often block a cyber bully, and schools have specific procedures and rules to handle bullying. Save the bully’s message and screen name, then contact and report it.


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  No chatting while angry
  Sending angry, hostile or taunting messages attracts cyber bullies. Make certain your child is not using e-mail messages or chat rooms to vent their own anger in a way that hurts others.


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  If you are threatened with harm, tell the police
  Even if you don’t know how to identify the individual who has made the threat, law enforcement often has access to the information and may be able to track down and arrest them before they do more harm.


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  Be part of your child’s online experience
  It can be a fun journey to explore the wonders of the Internet as a family. As computer-savvy as kids and teens are today, they may even teach you a thing or two!