Kids Material

Tips for Kids

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Chat rooms, instant messaging and social networks can be great fun, but it is important to remember that you never really know who you are talking to online. It could be someone trying to trick you, some kind of weirdo, or even someone really dangerous.

 

Here are some tips to help keep you safe online:

1. Do not use your real name in chat rooms - pick an online nickname.

 

2. Do not tell anyone personal things about yourself or your family - like names, addresses, telephone numbers, clubs you belong to, financial information, age, school name or location.

 

4. Never send a picture or anything else without first checking with your parents.

 

5. Never agree to get together with someone that you meet online without first checking with your parents. If your parents agree to the meeting, be sure that it is in a public place and take your mother or father along with you.

 

6. Never respond to nasty or rude messages. It is not your fault if you get a message like that. If you do, tell your parents right away so they can contact the Internet service provider.

 

7. Be careful of any email attachments or links, as they can contain nasty images or computer viruses that can ruin the PC. If you receive an email and do not know who it is from, do not open it.

 

8. Talk with your parents so that you can set up rules for going online. You should decide the time of day you can be online, the length of time you can be online and appropriate sites that you can visit.