Staying Safe Online

The internet is a giant, wonderful library, playground, and post office all at once - and like any big public place, it has safety rules. The first rule: personal information stays private. Your full name, address, school, phone number, and passwords are yours, and strangers online do not get them, no matter how friendly they seem.

People online are not always who they say they are. A profile with a kid picture can belong to a grown-up pretending. That is why the rule is simple and has no exceptions: if someone you only know online asks to meet, asks for photos, asks you to keep secrets from your parents, or makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, tell a trusted grown-up right away. You will never be in trouble for telling.

Kindness and thinking count online too. Words typed on a screen land on a real person, so the rule is the same as the playground: be kind or be quiet. And remember that the internet never forgets - before you post, picture your message on a billboard with your name under it. If that picture feels wrong, do not send it. Smart habits now keep the internet fun for the rest of your life.