Working Together for Online Safety



94% of Canadian children (ages 9 to 19) use the Internet regularly, and one-fifth of the youngest users are on their own computer. 

Working together, families can create the safest online environment possible.

These are some of the risks that are involved with using the Internet:

Cyberbullying – participating in posted chats that include mean comments about others, or voting for the ugliest person in math class, plus using videos and photos to show others in a bad way are all forms of this!

Misinformation – research on the Internet can be great, but always use more than one site to make sure the information you’re finding is accurate. 

Privacy Invasions – if you give information about yourself on the Internet, even to a friend, it can be used to find you in person or for identity theft, when someone pretends to be you.  If it’s on the Internet, it is there forever, so be careful what you share.

Also, you need to avoid these types of risks:

Violent/hateful content
Online predators
Pornography
Gambling

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Follow these safety rules to create online comfort and reduce the risks to your safety!

For Youth:

1. Never give out personal information (address, phone number, password, photo, school name, sports team schedules) without parent’s permission.
2. Tell your parents if you are threatened or see images and text on the Internet that makes you uncomfortable.
3. Do not write or forward threatening, unkind or disrespectful emails or other postings.
4. Never make an appointment to meet someone you met on the Internet without the permission of your parents.
5. Get parent’s permission before filling out forms for contests, free stuff or online services.
6. Discuss with your parents any purchase or download you want to make online.
7. Always remember that virtual friends can pretend to be someone they are not. They can lie about their age, gender, interests, personality, job or anything else.
8. Write down user names and passwords and give them to your parents for safe storage.
9. Respect the rules set with your parents for Internet use and chatting online.

For Parents:

1. Take the necessary steps to ensure your child’s online safety.
2. Take an active interest in your child’s Internet use, including the websites and services they visit and use.
3. Acquaint yourself with your child’s cyber friends just as you do for their other friends.
4. Be supportive and understanding if your child experiences any problems online.
5. Keep a copy of your child’s user names and passwords in a safe place, to be used in the event of a threat to your child’s safety.
6. Help your child choose screen names, email addresses, IM names, etc. to make sure they don’t reveal age, gender or hobbies and are not suggestive.
7. Place computers in your home in a high-traffic area.

With access to a privilege like the Internet, there have to be some safety rules for all users.  It’s important for young people to talk to their parents about the dangers of online use so there are no surprises, less risk and a plan for dealing with things that come up.  Happy surfing!