Online Safety

I'm online and I meet someone my age in a chat room. Is it OK to give him or her my address or phone number so we can get together?

• YES

• NO

Answer explanation

You should NEVER give out your name or address to anyone you meet online. If you really want to have an "offline" conversation with this person, check with your parents to see if they can think of a safe way to arrange it.

I have a digital picture of myself and someone I met online wants to see it.  Is it OK to send it to that person?

• YES

• NO

Answer explanation

You should NEVER send a picture of yourself to someone you met online, without first checking with your parents!

I'm visiting a site from a company or organization that I've heard of. They want my name and phone number so I can enter a contest.  Is it OK to enter?

• NO

• YES

Answer explanation

If a legitimate company wants to collect information from children -- even to enter you in a contest -- they must first get your parents permission. This not only protects your safety, but your privacy too.   Ask your parents about the importance of protecting your privacy.

I'm in the middle of a chat session and someone says something really mean.  Should I:

• Say something mean back?

• Ask them to apologize?

• Don't respond; Tell an adult if it bothers me?

Answer explanation

As you apparently know, you should never respond to any messages that are mean or in any way makes you feel uncomfortable. It is not your fault if you get a message like that.  If you get a message like this,  tell your parents right away.                          

My parents' and I have established rules as to what I can do on the Internet when I'm home, but I'm at a friend's house. Should I go by my parents' rules or do whatever my friend does?

• Go by your parents' rules

• Do whatever your friend does

Answer explanation

Wherever you are, you should go by your parents rules.  There may be additional rules based on where you are. For example, if your friends parents' have extra rules for your friend, you'll have to go by those too. When you're at school or at a library you should go by the rules there, but you should always talk with your parents about what they think is best.

I'm online and I get a message from my Internet service provider asking for my password.  They say they need it  to fix my account. Should I give it to them?

• yes

• no

Answer explanation

                      You should never give out your Internet password to anyone (even your best friends) other than your parents. AOL and most other Internet service providers will never ask you for a password and sometimes people will pretend that they work for the Internet service provider to get  your password

 I met someone in a chat room who wants to get together. They live nearby.  Can I arrange a meeting?

• YES

• NO

Answer explanation

It's very important that you never agree to get together with someone you "meet" online without first checking with my parents. If your parents agree to the meeting, they should be that it is in a public place and with a parent present.