Digital Citizenship Online Safety

To be kind, what question should you ask yourself before saying anything online?

• What site should I post this on?

• What is a more interesting way I can say this?

• How can I get more people to see this?

• Would I say this in person?

Why do you need to be more cautious with friends you meet online than with the friends you meet at school?

• Online, it's more difficult to tell if people are who they say they are.

• Most people on the Internet are more trustworthy than people in the real world.

• Friendships that begin online aren't "real".

What's safe to do with a new online friend?

• Planning an in-person meetup

• Chatting about favorite books and movies

• Exchanging phone numbers

• Exchanging photos of yourselves

• Telling them what school you go to, where you live, and when your parents work.

If you're confronted by a difficult situation online, and you don’t know how to handle it, what should you do?

• Ask an online friend for help.

• Tell an adult you trust (for example: parent, teacher, counselor).

• Turn off the computer.

• Make an educated guess.

When is it okay to submit your personal information online?

• When you are promised money in return.

• When you receive a text requesting personal info

• When your parents say it's okay. / With parent permission.

• When all of your friends have already done it.