Best Practices for Kids

  1. Keep all of your personal information to yourself.

    Information like your address, telephone number, or even where you go to school and what you do afterwards can lead to a dangerous situation down the road.

  2. Never give out your picture or post it online.

    Your image is everything; don’t let someone destroy it. Anything you send could be altered and then given to other people.

  3. Always use a neutral screenname.

    It is important that your username not reveal any personal information such as your age, sex, or location.

  4. Don’t give out passwords to anyone other than your parents.

    Your password can be used in a variety of ways that may hurt you. If you think that someone may know your password, change it.

  5. Don’t trust everyone you meet online.

    Some people are not who they say they are. For instance, someone online could claim to be 12 and really be 50.

  6. If you come across anything that makes you uncomfortable, tell your parents.

    This includes pictures, messages that are mean, or anything else that makes you feel uncomfortable.

  7. Ask your parents before meeting an online buddy in person.

    Meeting an online buddy in person is risky. If your parents agree to the meeting, be sure to meet in a public place and bring them with you.

Online chat: More information about types of online chat rooms

There are several different websites on the Internet that teach kids and teens how to stay safe online. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has designed one such site called www.netsmartz.org. This site provides interactive games aimed at kids and testimonials of victims aimed at teens.

NCMEC's kids safety page can be found at: www.netsmartzkids.org.

NCMEC's teen safety page can be found at: www.netsmartz.org/netteens.htm.

www.netsmartz411.com is parents' and guardians' premier, online resource for answering questions about Internet safety, computers, and the Web.

For more information about the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, please visit their web site.

You can also visit the FDLE's Missing Children Information Clearinghouse to receive information about missing children in Florida and to register to receive Amber Alerts.

Kids, check out Crime Dog McGruff's web site.