Surfing Safety Tips for Kids

Talk to your parents about the Web sites you are visiting and let them know why you are going to these sites.

Look at a site's "Privacy" link to see how it will use the information you give it.

Keep your password, last name, phone number, and address to yourself. 

“Don’t talk to strangers.” The old saying works for the Web too! Stay away from chatting with people on the Web if you don't know them. They may not be who they are pretending to be.

Let your parents or teachers know if a Web site ever makes you feel uncomfortable

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Do's and Don'ts on the Web

Do:

Use the Internet to help with schoolwork. The Internet is a source of great volumes of information. It's like having the world's largest library at your fingertips!

Use the Web to visit museums in far away places. A great example is at the Smithsonian.

Use the Web to meet children in other countries or to keep in touch with pen pals who live far away from you.

Do use the Web to learn more about universities and colleges that you may be interested in attending. Almost all colleges post some information on the Internet. To find a college web site click on the Alphabetical Listing of College and University Home Pages.

Do be careful when you download (copy) programs from the Web. Use a virus scan program before loading it on your computer.

Don’t:

Don’t give your password to anyone. Passwords are intended to protect your computer and your files. It would be like giving the key to your house away.

Don’t give any personal information, such as your family’s address, phone number or credit card numbers to anyone on a computer network that you don’t know. Always check with your parents before giving any information away on the Web.

Don’t give your picture to anyone over the Web you don’t know.

Don’t arrange to meet anyone you’ve met on the Internet without telling your parents. Sometimes people lie about who they really are.

Don’t try to break into computers. It is not a game, it is a crime. Also, making copies of copyrighted material, such as books, magazines or music is also a crime.

Don’t copy material that you find on the Web and pretend that it is your own work.

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Safety for Building a Web Site

Keep your last name, address, or telephone number off your Web page and out of your e-mail.

Be careful when e-mailing or chatting with people.
E-mail is a great way to talk to people without giving out your address and telephone number. You can post your e-mail address on your Web site. If somebody sends you something that makes you feel funny, it is very important to tell an adult immediately.

Ask for graphics, music, or text that isn't yours. Viewing other Web sites can be a great way to learn. If you find a graphic or music on somebody else's Web site, it doesn't belong to you. You may either ask for the graphic or go to the many "free" graphic sites and get what you like. 

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"I Will" Statements

”I will” statements provided by Fema.gov.

I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parent's work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents' permission.

I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.

I will never agree to get together with someone I "meet" online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along.

I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.

I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way makes me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do, I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the online service.

I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of the day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission.

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Great Kid Links!

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