| The Internet today virtually puts the world right at your fingertips. From homework help, to social networking, to online games, shopping, and researching colleges, a wealth of information is readily available in seconds.
Sorting through the millions upon millions of bits of information is the challenge. Just like you don't believe everything you see on television, you shouldn't believe that everything – and more importantly, everyone – that you encounter online, is true and safe.
Social networking can be a blast, and a great way to make new friends you'd never otherwise have a chance to meet. Here are a few tips to safely enjoy all that the World Wide Web has to offer:
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Never give out your personal information (last name, address, phone, school location, Social Security number, etc) online, that could be used to identify you or locate you offline. |
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Don't give out your passwords to anyone - it's like handing a stranger your housekey and a bag to help carry all of your stuff away! No reputable company will ask you for your passwords or other personal information, via e-mail or instant message. |
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Make sure your screen name doesn't give away clues: never include your name, age, school name or hometown. You might think you're anonymous, but doesn't take a rocket scientist to piece together a few bits of information and hunt you down. |
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Be careful if and when posting photos – they can be altered and re-distributed in embarrassing ways! If your mom wouldn't hang it up in the living room, maybe you shouldn't post it where millions of strangers can see it. |
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Flirting with strangers online can have disastrous consequences – since some people aren't who they claim to be, you never know for sure who you're chatting with. A person may be much older than they say they are, a different gender, or even a convicted sex offender. |
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Don't meet new 'friends' in person, whom you've interacted with online, without careful research. Ask your friends if they know this person, see if you can dig up information on their background. If you do decide to meet in person, make sure it's a public place, during the day, with trusted friends or family. Tell a responsible adult where you're going, who you plan to meet and when you expect to return. |
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Trust your instincts - if you feel threatened or uncomfortable about someone or something online, tell a responsible adult, and if necessary, report it to the police, and to the web site's administrator. You could prevent someone else from being a victim! |
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Check out how a site works before posting information; some sites restrict posted content to registered members while others make it available to the world. Also carefully check site's privacy policies before posting; some share your personal information with other companies; others sell it to potential spammers and scammers. |
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Don't post anything online that you may regret later. Even if you remove the content, versions of it still exists on computers that have downloaded it. What may seem cool and funny now, could be quite embarrassing later should potential colleges or employers find it while researching you! |
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Don't steal copyrighted computer programs or download copyrighted music or videos. People deserve to be paid for their time and talents, and taking their hard work without permission is no different, or less of a crime, than stealing from a store or someone's home. |
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Same goes with research, news articles and essays and papers. It's no different than copying it from a magazine or the person sitting next to you. It doesn't matter what a site claims, or that you paid money for that report – if you didn't write it, it's not yours. And think about it: if you found it that easily, so can thousands of others, including your teachers. |
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Always have updated spyware and virus protection software on your computer, and never download files unless you are absolutely sure they are safe. Many malicious programs are disguised as funny images, videos or music, and can permanantly destroy your computer system if downloaded. |
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