Safe Social Networking for Children and Young People
Sites like Bebo, MySpace and Facebook can be great fun and may
be an important part of your social life, but it's important to
remember that because these sites are online they're not really
private.
Stick with your friends
It's safer to make your profile private by changing your
'privacy settings' or 'account settings'. This means only
your friends can see what's in your profile. You'll still be
able to get friend requests, but your less likely to be pestered by
strangers.
Remember though, that you don't know who your friend's friends are,
so it's a good idea not to post personal details like your last
name or your school or your email address. There's always a
chance someone you don't know could see it and not all people are
honest. Once you post something online it's there forever and
that includes pictures.
Click CEOP
It is strongly reccomended that all web users
add the clickceop application to their facebook web page as a
matter of course rather than only using ceop when problems
arise.
Sharing is good, but...
Think carefully about who you want to chat to, what you want to
say and what pictures you put up on your site. Remember, even
if it feels private, the internet is really a public space.
If it isn't something you'd be happy for your mum/dad/best friend
or a total stranger to see, then it's probably best not to share
it.
Think before you post
What you put online reflects the kind of person you are.
So don't post racist, homophobic, bullying or threatening
material. You should also respect your friends and the social
networking community and not bring real life arguments
online. Remember too, that something you think is funny might
not seem funny to others, so try not to embarass or humiliate
people.
Finally, if it's illegal offline, it's illegal online. So
don't post anything that promotes crime or violence or drug
abuse. Anything you put online can be traced - even if you
put in false details.
If you see abuse, report it
If you notice anyone promoting illegal activity or behaving in a
threatening manner it's important that you report it to the service
provider. If someone is in immediate serious danger, contact
the police.
Look for a 'clickCEOP' button on your social networking
profile. You can use the button to get advice and guidance
from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) or report
concerns to them directly. Bebo includes the button
automatically. If you're on Facebook you can download the
application at: www.facebook.com/clickceop
Troubling Communications
Communications that leave you uncomfortable or give you any
concerns in addition to being reporting to ceop should also be
printed off and the document is then timed and dated to help assist
in detecting offenders.
