Safety Tips for Kids on the Internet

Never give out identifying information such as Name, Home Address, School Name, or Telephone Number in a public message such as at a chat room. Never send a person a picture of you without first checking with your parents or guardian. Never respond to messages that are: Suggestive/Threatening/Making You Feel Uncomfortable. Be careful when someone offers you something for nothing, such as gifts and money. Be very careful about any offers that involve your coming to a meeting or having someone visit your house. Tell your parents or guardian right away if you come across any information that makes you feel uncomfortable. Never arrange a face-to-face meeting without telling your parents or guardian. If your parents or guardian agree to the meeting, make sure that you meet in a public place and have a parent or guardian with you. Remember that people online may not be who they seem. Because you can't see or even hear the person, it would be easy for someone to misrepresent him or herself. Thus, someone indicating that "she" is a "12-year-old-girl" could in reality be an older man. Be sure that you are dealing with someone that you and your parents know and trust before giving out any personal information about yourself via e-mail. Get to know your "online friends" just as you get to know all of your other friends.

Short Answer Questions

1. List at least 4 pieces of identifying information about a person.
2. What should a kid do if he comes across information that makes him feel uncomfortable?
3. Why could a "12-year-old girl" be an older man in reality?
4. What must you do before giving out your personal information via e-mail?
5. How could you get to know your "online friends"?

(Keys.)