Internet Safety Tips for Preteens & Teens

The Internet can be a great way to learn information and to socialize with people from around the world that you might not otherwise meet. The popularity of social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace has made the Internet even more popular in recent years. However, not everyone on the Internet is safe and not everyone has your best interests at heart. In order to protect yourself and keep yourself (and your kids) safe, here are a few tips for being smart and safe when on the Internet.

One of the key points of online safety is about posting pictures online. Preteens and teens should be very careful about posting pictures online, particularly on their social networking profile pages such as Facebook and Myspace. Warning bells should go off if anyone asks for a picture that makes you uncomfortable or asks you to send them a picture without your clothing on or that might make your parents uncomfortable. If anyone does this, then talk to your parents about it immediately.

Privacy Online

According to the Federal Trade Commission, one of the big mistakes that many people make online (both adults and teens) is that they say far too much about themselves online and on their social networking profiles. Private information should be kept private. Do not reveal your address or phone number to people you don't know or who your parents have not approved. Deliberately set your social networking profiles so that you have to approve anyone who wants to make you their friend or add you to their friendship list.

One of the things that teens and preteens can do to protect themselves on the internet is to talk to their parents frequently about who their friends are online and make their passwords available to their parents. It is your parents' job to protect you and if anyone is doing something online they should not be doing, it is your parents who will probably be the first line in protecting you and keeping you safe. Talk to your parents, they are there to help you.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, one of the growing problems with online social networking pages is the number of ways in which kids are being bullied online. Often bullying takes the form of inappropriate and mean pictures being posted. Other forms of online bullying include sending hate emails, sending mean threats and making up stories about people. Bullying is never acceptable behavior, either in person or online.

One of the ways you can protect yourself online is to keep your passwords private, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Never give your passwords out to anyone accept your parents. Anyone who has access to your passwords can change your profile pages or send emails without you even knowing anything about it. Passwords are designed to help you keep your information private and your accounts secure. If someone steals your password, immediately reset it to a new password. A strong password contains both numbers and letters and is not obvious. This means it does not contain parts of your name, the name of your pet, your address or phone number.

Photo Credit: Nevit Dilmen