The number one thing to remember, if anything is worrying you online or on your phone, is to tell a trusted adult (like a parent or teacher). Don't be afraid or embarrassed, just tell someone straight away.
Here are a few of the most important things to keep in mind when you use the Internet and your mobile phone and some useful links below to help you stay safe:
Staying safe online
- Don’t post any personal information online – like your address, email address or mobile number
- Think carefully before posting pictures or videos of yourself. Once you’ve put a picture of yourself online people can see it and download it, it’s not just yours anymore
- Keep your privacy settings on social media accounts as high as possible
- Never give out your passwords
- Don’t befriend people you don’t know
- Don't accept friend or follow requests from people you don't know
- Don’t meet up with people you’ve met online - speak to a trusted adult about anyone who suggest you do
- Remember that not everyone online is who they say they are
- Think carefully about what you say before you post something online
- Respect other people’s views, even if you don’t agree with someone else’s views, it doesn’t mean you need to be rude
- If you see something online that makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried; leave the website, and tell a trusted adult immediately
Staying safe on your mobile
- Don’t reply to any nasty messages you receive - tell an adult about them instead
- Don’t reply to a text from someone you don’t know
- Keep the messages you have been sent so you can show them to a trusted adult and make a note of the time and date of the messages or calls you receive
- Don’t answer calls from withheld numbers or numbers you don’t recognise - let it go to voicemail
- Don’t give your mobile number to someone you don’t know
- Don’t send pictures to someone you don’t know and be very careful about sending pictures to anyone on your phone
What to do if you are being bullied online
- Tell an adult you trust if you are being cyber bullied
- Don’t respond or retaliate to bullying messages - it could make things worse
- Block users who send you nasty messages (if you need advice on how to block people on various social media websites, use the documents below)
- Save any abusive emails or texts you receive and show an adult
- Don’t pass on any cyber bullying videos or messages – this is cyber bullying (Take the BBC quiz 'Are you an accidental cyberbully?').
- You can talk to someone at Child Line or get online safety advice at www.childline.org.uk/talk/Pages/Talk.aspx