Using the internet - guidance for parents and children
Using the internet - guidance for parents and children
This page offers advice to youngsters AND OTHERS surfing the net
who are planning on using chat rooms to make friends and meet
people in the on-line community.
"Chat Wise, Street Wise" is a series of pointers which offer a
simple formula of precautions for youngsters (and their
fast-learning parents). They should help young surfers avoid the
unwanted attentions of people who may not appear exactly as they
really are when they are on-line.
• DO NOT give out personal details, photographs, or any other
information that could be used to identify you, such as your
family, where you live or the school you go to.
• DO NOT take other people at face value - they may not be what
they seem.
• NEVER arrange to meet someone you've only ever previously met on
the Internet without first telling your parents, getting their
permission and taking a responsible adult with you. The first
meeting should always be in a public place.
• Always stay in the public areas of chat where there are other
people around.
• DO NOT open an attachment or downloaded files unless you know
and trust the person who has sent it.
• NEVER respond directly to anything you find disturbing - save or
print it, log off, and tell an adult.
• Finally, we would recommend that children should only use chat
services specifically targeted at their own age range which have
adequate levels of care and protection.
For more information for parents on protecting their children from
those in chat rooms take a look at www.chatdanger.com. There is also a
new European Commission web-site that may be useful at www.saferinternet.org.