1. STRANGER DANGER
You wouldn’t share photos or give out personal info to a stranger face to face. It’s the same online. You never know who is really behind the screen. Always tell your foster carer straight away if something online make you feel uneasy.
2.PRIVACY SETTINGS
It’s mega easy to get set up in social media, but make sure you choose the maximum privacy settings. If you haven’t – go back and check! Google yourself and see what comes up in the results – aka your ‘digital footprint’. Your info might not be as hidden as you thought.
3. POSTING IS PERMANENT
Deleting something online doesn’t mean removing it from the internet forever. After posting something online, anyone can save, download and re-use it. Don’t post anything you may regret later.
4. STRONG PASSWORDS
Choose secure passwords with a mix of symbols, numbers and capital letters. Never share your passwords with anyone – even friends.
5. PERSONAL INFORMATION
If somebody knows you well enough they will never need to ask for personal information like your address or
school online. Don’t share this info and be careful of who is asking for it.
6. FAKE NEWS
If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is! It’s not just about social media. It’s also spam emails. Never open links or attachments from an unknown sender, they could be a virus. And never pass on personal information in an email – trusted organisations will never ask for this in an email.
7.RESPECT
It’s so easy to type something when you’re hiding behind your screen. But remember, there’s also a real person at the other side of the screen, so always be respectful and polite.
8. THE FULL STORY?
Remember that the lifestyles shown on social media are only part of the story. Despite how it looks from the outside, nobody’s life is perfect.
9. BLOCK OR REPORT CONTENT
Take responsibility for making the internet a safer place to be.
And one last thing…
10. KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO LOG OFF
Using the internet safely is not just about what you get up to online, it’s about how much time you’re spending doing it and making sure it isn’t affecting school or sleep. Know when it’s time to log off!