internet safety

Guidelines for maintaining personal safety on the internet from the FBI

• Never give out personal information such as your name, home address, school name,
  or telephone number in a chat room or on bulletin boards.
• Never send a picture of yourself to someone you chat with on the computer without
  your parent's permission.
• Never write to someone who has made you feel uncomfortable or scared.
• Do not meet someone or have them visit you without the permission of your parents.
• Tell your parents right away if you read anything on the Internet that makes you feel
  uncomfortable.
• Remember that people online may not be who they say they are. Someone who says
  that "she" is a "12-year-old girl" could really be an older man.

Below are links to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crimes Against Children Program
guide to internet safety....

• A Parents Guide to Internet Safety in English
• A Parents Guide to Internet safety in Spanish

Links to other informative sites...

• SafeTeens.com
• NetSmartz Workshop - Keeping Kids and Teens Safer on the Net
• GetNetWise - Online Safety Guide

June - Internet Safety Month

June is Internet Safety Month, and RAINN would like to commemorate it by reminding everyone of how important it is to protect yourself while online.

You may be at greater risk of stalking, harassment, or other crimes when you are online, because certain features that are unique to the Internet -- such as the ability to access lots of information about people from many sources, in relative anonymity, and with the ease of a few keystrokes -- make it easier to commit such crimes. While the Internet can be a powerful tool to gain knowledge and connect with other people, it is important to be aware of its dangers and the simple things you can do to stay safe.

RAINN has created this Teen Internet Safety Quiz to allow you to test your own knowledge of online safety. Give yourself two points for every correct answer, and encourage your friends to test their knowledge as well by sending them a link to this site. We will have more information available on rainn.org shortly.

Read Newsweek's article entitled "Predator's Playground," A Web safety expert offers tips for keeping teenagers and children safe on social-networking sites like MySpace.com.