Internet and Mobile Phone Safety
REMEMBER that the Internet is a public place - you have to be
careful who you trust out there!
Texting, chatting and video messaging can be fun, however you
need to be aware that once you send pictures or other personal
details, you never know where they might end up.
Always think before you send!
Do not give out personal details to people you do not know
Personal details include things like:
- your home address
- your mobile number
- pictures of you or your family and friends
- it is a good idea to use a nickname when you are on-line.
Keep your real name, address, telephone number and school name a
secret.
Never reply to texts from people you don't know.
If you do not know the sender it's best to delete them straight
away.
Tell your parents or teacher if someone or something makes you
feel uncomfortable or worried.
Never be afraid to let someone know if you feel bullied or
uncomfortable about anything you've been sent or see online.
Top Tips to keep you safe:
- Do not give out your name, address or telephone number to
anyone you don't know
- Do not arrange to meet anyone you don't know
- If you are not sure about something, ask an adult you
trust
- Do not get involved in a 'happy slappy' activity. It is
an assault on the victim and you may get into trouble.
Internet Safety
Think Before You Click
E-mailing, surfing the net and chatrooms can be fun and are now
part of normal life, however you need to be aware of the
following:
Surfing the Web
- Be careful about sites that ask for lots of personal details,
you never know where that information goes.
- If you see anything on a website that upsets you, turn off the
screen and tell an adult you trust
- Avoid opening pop-ups as much as possible
Chat Rooms
- You might think you've some really cool friends in chat rooms
or through IM, but how can you be sure who you are talking to?
- The person may appear friendly and trustworthy but they may not
be
- If you haven't met them in real life in controlled and safe
circumstances with trusted adults you need to remember that they're
a stranger. 'Stranger Danger' still
applies.
Grooming
What is Grooming
It is when an adult gradually gets to know a young person by
pretending they are safe and friendly, when in fact they plan to
abuse the young person or try to have sex with them. Grooming
is a criminal offence.
Who Are These People
- Adults who may pretend to be a young person and who make
contact with you via a mobile phone or in internet chat rooms
- Adults who want to know lots of details about you and who want
to meet you
- Adults who may claim that they love you
- Adults whose intention is to have sex with you
- The number of adults attempting to groom children and young
people across Scotland is increasing
- The people who sexually abuse children and young people are not
always strangers: they can be friends, family, members or other
apparently trusted adults
- They may go out of their way to be friendly and to get you to
trust them; this makes it easier for them to hurt you without
risking arrest
Mobile and Internet Safety
So you think you know more than adults when it comes to
technology? You're probably right. However there are
some things you should know to help keep you safe:
Never
- give out personal bank information or details
- arrange to meet with people alone - always take a friend
or trusted adult and always arrange to meet in a public place
- send anyone pictures of yourself without first checking
with your parents or guardians/carers
- never engage in sexual talk
- go into adult chat rooms
- use a web cam without telling an adult you trust
