Surfing the Net

We all love to surf the net and chat to our friends online but the Internet is not always a safe place to be.

Constable Chris and I are going to teach you and your parents how to make sure you stay safe online.

Here are some cybersmarts to help you ‘surf’ safely online:

• Set up some online rules with mum and dad about what information you can give out and where you can go online.
• Be open and honest with mum and dad about your Internet use.
• Be aware of who you are chatting with online - they may not be who they say they are.
• Information that is on the Internet is not always reliable.
• It is ok to tell mum and dad if you see something that worries you – you will not be in trouble.
• Learn ‘netiquette’ – treat others online as you would treat them in real life.
• Do not respond to someone if they say something inappropriate, immediately exit the site and let mum and dad know what happened.
• Make sure you ask mum and dad before you download anything.
• Set up your computer in a public area at home, where both mum and dad can see you.
• Bookmark your favourite sites for easy access.
• Block access to sites you think are inappropriate – speak to mum and dad about using filters so you are safe online.
• Talk to mum and dad about your different online experiences, the good and the bad.

Chatrooms

We all like to talk to our friends and make new friends online but there are still some risks to be aware of.  Sometimes the person you are chatting to is not who they say they are.

• Let mum and dad know who you are chatting with.
• Set up some rules with mum and dad about what information you should give out online.
• Tell mum and dad if anyone says something online that makes you feel uncomfortable or scared.
• Speak to mum and dad about why you need to be safe online.
• Ask mum and dad to chat online with you.
• Limit your chatroom visits and only be online for a short time.
• Block access to chatroom sites or pages that you think are inappropriate.