Listed below are several rules of the internet that can help minimize the risks associated with online child predators. They are not fail safe regulations, but rather reasonable steps to follow in order to better protect your children in cyberspace.
Never give out any personal information to anyone you meet online including first or last names, phone numbers, passwords, birth dates or years, or credit card information. Some of this information can be used to determine where you live.
Never meet up with anyone you don't already know. Don't tell them your schedule, locations where you typically hang out, or any sort of party announcement. Often, the people you think you're chatting with are not who they say they are.
Do not answer those "fun" questionnaires that are frequently forwarded to you, even if they're from friends you already know. In cyberspace, all of that personal information is potentially accessible to someone who could use them to harm you.
Make sure you are personally acquainted with everyone on your friend or buddy list. If you have yet to meet someone face-to-face, they may not be who they claim to be.
Do not reply to emails or IMs from people you don't know even if they reference a friend of yours. It could be a stranger person who chose a name out of thin air and got lucky. And never, ever IM a stranger.
The concept of privacy does not exist on the internet. Industrious people can find a way to grab any information they want and keep it forever.
Be extremely careful when posting pictures of yourself online. Don't post sexy or revealing pictures or any that exhibit behavior you wouldn't want your mother, teacher, boss, or potential college advisor to see. Also, be sure not to post pictures with anything that can identify where you attend school, work, live, hangout, etc. They can lead online predators directly to you.
Do not download content for any reason without first getting your parents' consent. Many sites have spyware that will damage your computer or other viral elements that can siphon information from your computer that can identify who you are, where you live and other personal information.
Never, ever share your password with anyone but your parents.
|
