Tips For
Enjoying Email,
Instant Messages,
And The
World Wide Web
With Personal Security


 
 Basic Internet Safety


Using the Internet can be a lot of fun and very helpful too! But while surfing the web or chatting with online friends, you must always do so safely. Here are some tips on how you can do that. 

  1. Never tell someone your name, home address, phone number, or school name while you are online.
  2. Don’t give your password to anyone, even your best friend, and remember; always make your password hard to guess.
  3. Never agree to go anywhere and meet an online friend in person.
  4. Never e-mail pictures of yourself to strangers.
  5. Don’t accept things from strangers (like e-mails, photos, downloads, or website addresses.
  6. If someone says something to you that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, don’t respond and tell a parent, teacher, librarian, or any adult as soon as possible.
  7. (You can also report it to AOL; keyword tell AOL)
 An Important Note


Remember that people online may not be who they appear to be or who they say they are. Someone who says that ”she” is a “12 year old girl” could really be an older man.
 
 And Remember...

Here are a few more hints for the safe use of the Internet.
  1. Avoid using a screen name that is gender or age specific.
  2. If you decide to meet someone that you meet online, don’t go alone. Make sure your in a public place.
  3. Don’t respond to hostile or threatening e-mails or chat room postings. It will only provoke the predator.
  4. You should never feel uncomfortable when you are online. If you do tell an adult.
  5. Make sure you are only on websites that are appropriate for someone your age.
 My Internet Pledge


Now that you know these safety hints, you're ready to take The Internet Pledge.
 

“I, (Your full name) will be a good online citizen and I, (your full name) will not do anything that hurts other people or that is against the law.”

 
 Online Resources

For more information on Internet safety, visit these other web sites.
 

 Credits


Text Written By Sixth Graders
Sandra Tamburro, Madyson Spano, & Christina Hatjygeorge
For Library Skills With Ms. Afromsky

 

    Published Sept 21, 2003 


 
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