Kid Safety: What Lurks Online?

Kid Safety: What Lurks Online?

Most parents don't know what lurks on the big world of the internet. They think not allowing their kids on to sites like myspace, facebook, and twitter would protect them. BUT THEY ARE WRONG!!!!!!!!!!! There are many problems like the sexual exploits of children on the web. 

For the full article go to 

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/crime-time/200910/kid-safety-what-lurks-online

The MeSsAgE

Do not believe everything you see on the internet. Also if someone wants to meet you, Decline The OFFER.

My personal experience

While playing on a web based game called Arcanists. When i was playing someone they started to text racist comments about my character who resembles me. I quit that game quickly, and left the computer.  

16 ways OMG

1. Remember, when you are online, what you do is up to you. Don't do anything you don't want to do.
2. Don't open files or e-mail from someone you don't know. You don't know what might be inside—the files could contain a computer virus or offensive material.
3. Keep the computer in a common space, like the family room, den, or living room.
4. Never agree to meet someone you met on the Internet in person without your parents' permission. You should never meet someone you met online alone. If you do set up a meeting with an online friend, meet in a public place and go with your parent or guardian.
5. Remember that any information you share about yourself can be seen by anyone who is online.
6. Don't give out your phone number.
7. Talk to your parents (or your teacher or another adult) about the kinds of places you go and things you do and see when you are online.
8. Pick a name—different from your real name—to use online.
9. Before you go into a public area, like a chat room or discussion forum, decide with your parents if it is okay to give out your e-mail address.
10. If someone online asks you too many personal questions, be suspicious. Stop talking with them.
11. Don't give out the name of your school.
12. Always remember that people online may not be who they say they are. It is very easy for people to pretend to be someone they are not.
13. Don't do things online that you wouldn't do in real life.
14. Be careful when someone offers you something for free, like gifts or money. You don't know what their motives are. Decline the offer and tell your parents.
15. Treat other people as you'd like to be treated. Never use bad language or send mean messages online.
16. The "off" button is always there. Use it if you need to. You don't have to stay online if you don't want to.

10 more ways

1. Double-check the URL (the address of the Web site) before hitting the Enter key. Make sure the spelling is right. This will help ensure you go to the site you want, and not some other place.
2. Check with your parents or another adult you trust before going into a chat room. Different chat rooms have different rules and different types of people going to them. You and your parents want to make sure it is an appropriate place for you before you enter.
3. If something you see or read online makes you uncomfortable, leave the site. Tell a parent or a teacher right away.
4. Never send a picture of yourself (or anything else) to someone in e-mail unless your parents say it is okay.
5. If you receive unwanted, offensive, mean, threatening, or harassing e-mail, do not respond to it. Tell your parents or another adult right away.
6. Remember: not everything you read on the Internet is true.
7. Don't give out your age without checking with your parents first.
8. Never give out your full name (first and last). Don't give out your first name without checking with your parents or another adult first.
9. Never give out your home address over the Internet.
10. Ask your parents or an adult before signing up for anything online.

Some more ways

1. Don't share your password with anyone else.
2. Before you share any information about yourself on the Internet, get your parents' permission.

First Way

Establish guidelines for Internet use with your parents or another adult. Before you go online, decide how much time is okay for you to spend on the Internet each day and figure out what you can and cannot do. After you get more familiar with the Internet, you and your parents can talk again and change the guidelines. Post them next to the computer for easy reference.