Everything is on the Internet, including dangerous people and cyber-bullies. Most teenagers have heard about the dangers of the Internet but they might underestimate the effects of bullying that happen in cyberspace.
For Teenagers
- Don’t give out any important information about you, your family, or friends. This includes address, current location, age, school, names, credit cards, and phone numbers.
- Predators and cyber-bullies will use personas to try and get information. Always be suspicious of pictures, names, profiles, and posts.
- Remember that everything you do and post online is recorded forever. Nothing can be truly erased and anyone can access information that you put out.
- If someone harasses you online, do not respond, take a screenshot of the content, walk away from the computer, tell your parents, and contact the website’s administrator or your internet provider.
- Face-to-face meetings are only acceptable if the parents approve and go to the meeting.
For Guardians
- Keep computers and tablets in public areas of the home and not in the teenager’s bedroom.
For Families
- Parents and teenagers should fill out an Internet Safety Pledge to formally state what online activity is allowed.
- www.stopcyberbullying.org
- www.netbullies.com
- www.wiredsafety.org