Upper Hutt Youth

Get Wise

Lots of websites like MySpace and Bebo make it easy to chat with friends and talk to new people but chatting with people you don’t know could be dangerous.  We’ve listed a few tips to help keep you safe on the net:

 

• If you do use chat programmes, don’t give away any personal information (like your real name, phone number and address) to anyone.
• Be safe and respectful of everyone.

 

Agreeing to meet with a stranger you chat with online is not a great idea because it could be unsafe.  If you do decide to meet someone you don’t know but have been chatting with, here are some basics to help keep you safe:
 

• Meet in a public place.
• Always get parent permission before you go (and tell parents where you are going and who you are meeting).
• Go with a parent or with someone you trust.
• Only meet people you have known for a while.
   

Always be honest about your age.

Be sure to follow any family rules about Internet use.

Links to other websites

To learn more, you can visit these sites:

StaySafe.org – find out how to protect your information on the internet, stay safe while you blog, and find information about safety on the web. Netsmartz.org – an interactive website with stories from teens on heaps of issues, from cyber bullying to staying safe on the internet. GetNetWise.org – advice for teens, children and families on how to be safe in cyberspace. KidsHealth.Com – information on how to surf the web smartly and safely. OnGuard Online: FTC safety tips – offers tips on how to protect your personal information online and how to secure your computer.

Top