Internet Safety

The Internet can provide you with good, accurate, information. It also contains “information” that is untrue, unreliable, unproven, and at times even dangerous. When you fill out that personal questionnaire to get that free prize, you may be providing a burglar with your address!

Chat is the most dangerous area of the Internet. There have been countless cases where kids and young adults have been contacted, “groomed”, and then assaulted or raped as a result of a “cyber relationship” with someone they met on chat. If you think about chat just like you would any other communication, it can be much safer. Beware if you are in a chat room with your friends and someone you don’t know all of a sudden pops in and starts chatting with all of you. Stalkers will watch chat rooms and learn about you and your friends and then create a personality for themselves that will match what you are interested in. They will then chat with you, gain your trust, ask to talk with you on the phone or Webcam with them and eventually ask to meet with you “face to face”. This is the process that is called “grooming” by pedophiles and the computer is just one more way these criminals gain access to young people and try to meet them. So what precautions can you take?

1. Remember that anyone you have “met” online is not a “friend”. It is an unknown person, of unknown age or sex, from somewhere. Treat them like you would a stranger. Courteously say hello, and nothing more.
2. Do not reveal any personal information about yourself, your interests, your school, where you live, or anything about who you are. Remember a “cyberpal” is not a “friend”. The only online “friends” you have are those that you meet at school or other activities where you make “friends” just as you did before the Internet and Chat were invented. In chat rooms, use a name that’s different from your screen name. Choose a name that doesn’t include information revealing your identity or location. Here are some examples of private information you should never give out in chat on the Internet.
   1. Full name
   2. Home address
   3. Phone number
   4. Names of family members
   5. Social Security number
   6. Passwords
   7. Credit card numbers
3. Never, ever post your picture on the Internet or share any of your passwords with anyone, even your closest friend.
4. If you ever get involved in a chat room conversation that makes you feel uncomfortable or in danger for any reason, exit and tell a parent or other adult right away so they can report the incident.
5. Never, ever, ever agree to meet with anyone you “met” on the Internet.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying refers to cruel or bullying messages sent to you online. These might be from former friends or other people you know. They can be irritating and even frightening.

If you get these bullying messages online, it’s often better to ignore them rather then answer them. Cyberbullies, just like other bullies, are often looking for attention or a reaction. If ignoring it doesn’t make it go away, getting help from a parent, school counselor, or another trusted adult may be a good idea especially if the cyberbullying contains threats.

Information Sources:

• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
• Internet Safety—Detective Leanne Shirey