Tips for Safe Surfing

A Checklist For Safe Surfing

Never give any information out about yourself (or anyone else) over the Internet.

Never download any files on to your computer without a parent or adult's consent.

If anyone online says anything inappropriate to you, harasses you, or sends you unwanted e-mail, tell an adult immediately, and report it to the proper authorities.

Remember that on the Internet, people can pretend to be who they are not, and they may go to great lengths to sound convincing.

If you use chat rooms, use a different chat name (if possible) than your user name or e-mail address.

Remember, Internet friendships, relationships, and conversations can never be as true, personal, and rewarding as they are in person. If you really need to talk to someone, find a friend, family member, or adult you trust.

Be wary of ANYONE who wants to know personal information about you.

Remember that sometimes, when you are on the Internet, you may accidentally meet bad people or see things that are bad, but it's not your fault! If something you read or look at is upsetting, stop looking at it, and go tell an adult you trust or parent.

If you feel like you have no one you can turn to to talk to at home, you can call a place called 'Covenant House,' at 1-800-999-9999.

Never buy anything over the Internet without your parent or guardian's approval.

These tips are from Safe Surfing Kids

Cyberbullying Tips from ConnectSafely.org

These tips are re-posted from our sister site, ConnectSafely.org

Don’t respond. If someone bullies you, remember that your reaction is usually exactly what the bully wants. It gives him or her power over you. Who wants to empower a bully? Don’t retaliate. Getting back at the bully turns you into one and reinforces the bully’s behavior. Help avoid a whole cycle of aggression. Save the evidence. The only good news about digital bullying is that the harassing messages can usually be captured, saved, and shown to someone who can help. You need to do this even if it’s minor stuff, in case things escalate. Talk to a trusted adult. You deserve backup. It’s always good to involve a parent but – if you can’t – a school counselor usually knows how to help. Sometimes both are needed. If you’re really nervous about saying something, see if there’s a way to report the incident anonymously at school. Block the bully. If the harassment’s coming in the form of instant messages, texts, or profile comments, do yourself a favor: Use preferences or privacy tools to block the person. If it’s in chat, leave the “room.” Be civil. Even if you don’t like someone, it’s a good idea to be decent and not sink to the other person’s level. Also, research shows that gossiping about and trash talking others increases your risk of being bullied. Treat people the way you want to be treated. Don’t be a bully. How would you feel if someone harassed you? You know the old saying about walking a mile in someone’s shoes; even a few seconds of thinking about how another person might feel can put a big damper on aggression. That’s needed in this world. Be a friend, not a bystander. Watching or forwarding mean messages empowers bullies and hurts victims even more. If you can, tell bullies to stop or let them know harassment makes people look stupid and mean. It’s time to let bullies know their behavior is unacceptable – cruel abuse of fellow human beings. If you can’t stop the bully, at least try to help the victim and report the behavior. For more info:* Cyberbullying & Cyberthreats: Responding to the Challenge of Online Social Aggression, Threats, and Distress, by Nancy Willard * Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying, by Sameer Hinduja and Justin Patchin * Cyber Bullying: A Prevention Curriculum for Grades 3-5 and Cyber Bullying: A Prevention Curriculum for Grades 6-12, by Susan Limber, Robin Kowalski, and Patricia Agatston I found this from ConnectSafely.org. Make sure that you go over these with your child before they use the internet at home, school, or the library.