Kids Rules for Online Safety
- Screen Name. When creating your screen name, do not include personal information like your last name or date of birth.
- Passwords. Don’t share your password with anyone but your parents. When you use a public computer make sure you logout of the accounts you’ve accessed before leaving the terminal.
- Personal Information. Do not share information such as your real name, address, phone number with anyone online. Also, don’t post photos or videos online without getting your parents’ permission.
- Online Friends. Don’t agree to meet an online friend unless you have your parents’ permission. Unfortunately, sometimes people pretend to be people they aren't. Remember that not everything you read online is true.
- Online Ads. Don’t buy anything online without talking to your parents first. Some ads may try to trick you by offering free things or telling you that you have won something as a way of collecting your personal information.
- Downloading. Talk to your parents before you open an email attachment or download software. Attachments sometimes contain viruses. Never open an attachment from someone you don’t know.
- Cyber-Bullying. Don’t send or respond to mean or insulting messages. Tell your parents if you receive one. If something happens online that makes you feel uncomfortable, talk to your parents or to a teacher at school.
- Social Networking/Posting Online Social networking websites include: Facebook and Twitter. Be careful when making posts because even if they are deleted someone may have already saved them.
- Research. Talk to your librarian, teacher or parent about safe and accurate websites for research. The public library offers lots of resources. If you use online information in a school project make sure you explain where you got the information.