Top 10 Online Safety Tips

habbo.com

habbo.com

February is TEEN ONLINE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH and, to help ensure that we're all doing our best to stay secure online, let's have a look at Habbo.com's Top 10 Online Safety Tips for Teens.

1) None of your beeswax. If you don't give out your whole name, address, school or any other personal details, nobody can hurt you. Keep your real information private. Use a pretend name or your screen name when you make friends online.

2) No Thanks. Never meet anyone from online in real life. If they ask, just say "no thanks" and let an adult know someone asked you to meet in person.

3) Talk to the Hand! If someone harasses or bullies you online, tell them to "talk to the hand, understand?" and ignore their text. It's best to leave the chat if it's real-time chat. If someone bullies you via email, tell an adult or moderator right away.

4) Tell It. If someone is making you uncomfortable or threatening you, speak up and tell an adult right away. Ignore threats to post a chat or other personal information you may have shared, but be sure to pass those threats on to an adult.

5) Protect Your Pixels. Don't share your photos with anyone, even friends, via email or online. Friends may innocently share your photo with others and pretty soon your photo and details could be all over the net. Once a photo is passed around, you have no control over it.

6) Watch Your Words. What you say can be posted anywhere on the net. Think about what you type in instant messengers, emails, or chats and be prepared for it to be shared with others. Nothing is private on the net!

7) Cha-ching for Bling! Never spend any money online using your guardian's cell or home phone or credit card without permission.

8) DELETE DELETE DELETE! Don't download ANYTHING via email or messenger without scanning it first.

9) R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Respect yourself and others online.

10) Be Safe, Not Sorry. You can enjoy the web and your friends and still stay safe online. Be the smarty-pants of your posse. Learn about computers, password phishing, viruses, predators, and online safety.