The internet is a great place and one that we could not live without these days.
But we must remember that everything may not be as it seems. People who use the internet may not be who they say they are and information you find on the internet may not be true.
Luckily there are many people who can help us make sense of it all.
Young Scot
Young Scot provides information for 11-26-year-olds in Scotland.
This is what they have to say about internet safety:
Loads of people enjoy accessing the internet, but it’s worth remembering to keep safe while in cyberspace. You might know loads about the internet but it’s worth bearing a few things in mind.
Many of us now enjoy access to the web via a computer at home, work, school or even on your mobile phone. It’s important to think about what kind of information you give out, and keep to yourself in what you say and do.
Never give out any personal information such as your home address, phone number, or school to anyone you talk to online, even if you are offered free samples, gifts or information.
If you have your own website or pages on social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace or Bebo, remember that these are public sites and anyone can see them. So...
Always think carefully about what you put on your site, especially photos. Instead of putting up a picture of yourself you could draw an image, or upload something a bit abstract to protect your identity.
Remember that people who contact you may not be who they say they are. Anyone can say that they share your interests and are the same age… but not everyone is as they seem.
Never arrange a face-to-face meeting on your own with anyone you’ve met on the internet. If they want to meet you, tell your parents/guardians and friends. If you still decide to go ahead and meet up, choose a busy public place and take someone with you.
Don’t respond to threatening or obscene messages. No matter how irritating or rude they are - tell your parents/guardians, block the individual and report them to the site and/or CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection).
- Be careful if you receive an email message from someone you don’t know. It could contain a virus at the very least, which can mess up your computer.
Think U Know
The team at ThinkUKnow offer great advice and resources for young people as well.
They have split their website up into categories - advice for 5-7-year-olds, advice for 8-10-year-olds and advice for 11-16-year-olds.
You can find the latest information on the sites you like to visit, mobiles and new technology.
Most importantly, there’s also a place which anyone can use to report if they feel uncomfortable or worried about someone they are chatting to online.
All the information on the ThinkUKnow site is brought to you by the team at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre.
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