Online Safety Information

This page has been created by Riverside pupils to show you what we think is good, look at what’s not and show you ways you can get yourself out of bad situations on the internet

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Chatting online
When you’re chatting to people online, TRY NOT TO GIVE OUT ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION about yourself. This includes your full name, address or school. It’s ok to tell someone what city you live in though as long as you don’t include anything else. Even giving a street name can be enough to allow someone to find you. If anyone ever asks you for this information, tell a trusted adult straight away.

Some people who you meet online may not be who they say they are. It’s easy for people to lie when they’re chatting over the internet, so DON’T ARRANGE TO MEET UP WITH SOMEONE who you have met online. If anyone asks to meet up with you, tell a trusted adult. It is not a good idea but if you decide to meet up then make sure you take a trusted adult

Blocking people
If someone adds you to their contact list and you don’t know them, make sure you BLOCK THEM. This will stop them from seeing when you are logged on, and they won’t be able to contact you. If you add someone and decide afterwards you don’t want them on your list you can delete them too.

Profile Photos
It’s also NOT A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A PICTURE OF YOURSELF on your profile – you can use one of the pictures that are on IM already, or a picture of a pet or your favourite pop group. This is because if you have someone on your contact list who you don’t know in the real world, they will be able to have access to your profile and see what you look like.

Webcam dangers
Lots of people also use webcams when they use IM – this can be a great way of seeing all your friends and family when you are talking to them, but remember some people you meet online may not be who they say they are.Some people will try and speak to young people using IM because they have bad intentions and they can fake webcam images and pretend to be someone else to try and trick you. If you feel worried about this, make sure you tell to a trusted adult.

Receiving emails
Emails can also get lost on the internet after they have been sent, so make sure you don’t include lots of information about yourself that may allow people to know where you are. NEVER GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION, like your full name, address or school to people you talk to using email, if you don’t know them in the real world. If anyone you talk to online asks for this information, tell a trusted adult.

Some people use emails to send pictures of themselves to friends and family, but IT’S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO SEND A PICTURE TO SOMEONE YOU HAVE MET ONLINE who you don’t know in the real world. They may not be who they say they are, and you don’t want a stranger to have a picture of you or your friends/ family.

Nasty messages
The number one rule to remember if someone is being nasty to you in this way is DON’T RESPOND AND DON’T REPLY. You should tell a trusted adult straight away if someone is upsetting you, or if you have been getting upsetting messages.

The second rule is to SAVE ALL NASTY MESSAGES AND EMAILS. You don’t have to read them, but save them in a folder so you can show an adult if you need to.

The third rule is to TELL A TRUSTED ADULT. If you tell someone about what’s been happening, they will be able to help and maybe stop it.If you feel you can’t talk to someone just yet, call Childline in confidence on 0800 1111.

Treating people how you want to be treated
Finally, the most important thing to remember when you are using emails is…TREAT PEOPLE HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED YOURSELF. Take responsibility for what you write when using email and never write something that might hurt or upset someone.

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