Meeting people online to share experiences or just to chat can be fun, but you never can tell exactly who it is that you're talking to. These tips are to help you stay safe.
- Never use your real name - you can choose any you want!
- Don't give any personal details. You shouldn’t give details about yourself or your family, especially contact details like your address and phone number.
- Be careful about what you put in your personal profile. Try not to give anything away that could identify you, like your school
- Be very careful about meeting people face to face. If you are using other sites with chatrooms and you arrange to meet someone you have met online, meet in a busy, public place, like the town centre, and it is a good idea to take a friend or two (preferably an adult) with you or a member of your family. Let an adult know where you are going and when you will be back. Take your phone with you so that you can phone them if you have any problems. They should do this as well! You don't know who they are, but also they don't know who you are!
- If you receive an upsetting email/chat, tell an adult.
- Remember you are the one in control. If you are getting hassled by someone, you can come offline anytime. You can report them - some sites allow you to block any unwanted users, and if necessary, you can change your user name.
- Treat people like you want to be treated.
- Let an adult know the sites that you use and if you are having regular contact with the same person.
