Zip it:
When you’re online, always keep your personal stuff private and think about what you say and do.
Remember that people online may not be who they say they are. Online friends are still strangers even if you have been talking to them for a long time.
Don’t share personal information online. This includes:
- your full name
- photos
- addresses
- school information
- telephone numbers
- places you like to spend time
Make sure you have set your privacy settings to restrict access to personal information.
When you use chat rooms or instant messenger, use a nickname instead of your real name.
To stop people accessing your online accounts, always keep your passwords secret and change them regularly.
Block it:
Think about blocking people who send you nasty messages. If you're unsure, speak to an adult that you can trust.
Always delete emails from people you don’t know.
Don’t open attachments from people you don’t know. They might be nasty or contain a virus that can stop your computer working.
If you see anything that upsets you online or if someone asks to meet you, tell a parent or an adult you trust and they can help you. If you want to talk to someone else, you can call Childline on 0800 1111.
If a friend you have made online asks to meet you in the offline world, talk to your parents or a trusted adult about it. You should never meet up with someone you have met online without an adult going with you because it is dangerous.
If someone you know is being nasty to someone online, speak to a parent or trusted adult about it.