Safe Surfing
It’s really important that you keep yourself safe when you’re online. There’s lots of really useful information about how to keep safe and we’ve come up with seven safety tips:
- Signing up online – Many websites ask you to register online before you can join and may ask you to enter personal information such as your name, telephone number, age, address etc. Always check with a parent / carer that it’s ok before signing up.
- Keep it private – Always use a nickname when you register on a website. Be careful not to give out your full name, address, mobile phone number, photographs, or school name to people online. Always make sure you choose the option to keep your profile private otherwise you don’t know who could be looking at your webpage. Always keep your passwords private (even from your friends)
- Who’s who? – You can’t always be sure that whoever you are in contact with online is who they say they are or the age they say they are. Arranging to meet someone you only have contact with online can be dangerous. Only do so with you parent’s / carer’s permission, and then when they can be present.
- What’s in your inbox? – Opening emails and attachements from people you don’t really know or trust can get you into trouble – they may contain viruses or nasty messages. If you are unsure about any email (even from a friend) scan it with antivirus software before you open it or delete it.
- Is it true? – Just as someone online maybe lying about who they are, any information you find on the internet may not be reliable. Just because it’s on the internet does not mean it’s true!
- Speak up – Tell your parent or carer if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable or worried. Report inappropriate or nasty messages to whoever runs the website.
- Don’t forget – You don’t just use the internet throughout your computer at school or at home. Remember to use the same safety tips when you are using the internet through phones or games consoles.