The Internet is an amazing resource - you can look for all kinds of information, chat to people all over the world and much more. Lots of different people can put things on the internet so it is important to check the information you are getting is reliable and stay safe.
TIC is a fully moderated site - nothing goes on the site before it has been scanned by one of Macmillan Cancer Support’s information nurse specialists. All of our information goes through an approval process to make sure it’s up to date and accurate. If you ask a question on TIC it will be answered by a specialist cancer nurse. We link to various other websites that have been reviewed by cancer support specialists, although we don't endorse any other websites, as we can't control their content.
If you’re looking for more information on the web, or looking for someone to chat to, this section has some basic guidelines to follow.
finding information
ple online to s If you search for information online, you'll find a whole range of websites. But how can you tell which ones are really going to be useful and are giving you honest information? Things you might look for include:
- Who has produced the information? Is it clear who writes the information and are there processes in place for approving the information?
- Is there a date? It is useful to know when the information was produced or reviewed
- Is the information reliable? IIf you’re not sure if it’s from a reliable source, think about how it is written –Is it giving you a lot of options? Is it biased towards one viewpoint or another?
- What is the aim? Websites that share personal experiences, for example, can be useful in finding out what happened to other people – but remember that this is only one person's experience and everybody is different. Be very wary of websites that are trying to sell you something – especially if it claims to be some kind of cure.
- Is the information relevant for you? Treatments for cancer, for example, can be different in different countries, so if you are looking at a site from another country, the information it gives about treatment might only be true there.
- Can you check the information? Looking at different websites can help you get a wider view point. If you’re looking at a website which tells you about your treatment. You can also ask your nurse or doctor or contact us to find out more
chatrooms and messageboards
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 arrange to meet someone you have been chatting to online, meet in a busy, public place, like the town centre. It is a good idea to take a friend or family member with you (preferably an adult). 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. The person you're meeting 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. It's just better not to keep it all in, and they can help you deal with it.
- 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.
- Let an adult know the sites that you use and if you are having regular contact with the same person.
- Treat people as you want to be treated.
