Britannica e-Safety Tips for Students
Do’s
Do think before you post anything
Before you post a comment, image or video on the internet, think about its content. It may be funny to you and your friends but upsetting or offensive to others.
Do tell an adult and report anything upsetting
You can always report something upsetting. If you see a post, website, image or video that upsets you or makes you uncomfortable, the most responsible thing you can do is tell an adult.
Do know about privacy control
No matter what you use the internet for, always investigate privacy settings. Make sure that you never display your date of birth, address, phone number or any other personal information.
Do consider blocking people if necessary
Most sites will have a blocking function, so you can ignore someone who is behaving inappropriately or is upsetting you.
Do protect your computer from malware
Check with your parents or guardians that your computer has antivirus software and that it’s up to date.
Do shut down or log off if you need to
It can be difficult to avoid seeing things you wish you hadn’t. You can always shut down/ log off your computer. You can then report the website to a responsible adult or the Internet Watch Foundation at www.iwf.org.uk.
Do be careful with your mobile phone
Your mobile phone is just like a portable computer, so you need to apply the same “do’s and don’ts”. You must also remember to keep your mobile number private. Make sure that it’s got a PIN and don’t reply to texts if you don’t know who they are from.
Do surf the net safely
You can avoid inappropriate content or unsafe websites by ensuring that “safe searches” are switched on and sticking to trusted sites. If you do see something inappropriate, let an adult know.
Do learn together with your family and friends
You probably know more about the technology that you are using than most adults and, potentially, your peers do. Keep them up to speed with how the technology works so you can enjoy the web together!
Don’ts
Don’t be a victim of online bullying
Just because someone is behind a computer screen doesn’t make jokes, teasing or taunts at someone else’s expense any less upsetting. If you feel that you are being bullied, report it to the site’s administrator and tell an adult at once.
Don’t download unknown attachments
Do not open unknown attachments or downloads from emails or websites as they may contain viruses.
Don’t arrange to meet online “friends”
There are no exceptions to this rule. People you meet online may not be who they say they are and could even be an adult pretending to be a child. Tell an adult immediately if someone online suggests that they want to meet up with you.
Don’t say “yes” to anything you are not happy with
If you are being pressured by an online contact to do something that you are not comfortable with, no matter how friendly, persuasive or even threatening they are, say “no” and tell an adult. Stay safe when talking to online friends. Never be persuaded to send personal things like photos, videos or personal information.
Don’t be afraid if you make amistake
If something does go wrong, don’t worry - everyone makes mistakes sometimes! If you have seen something upsetting, or are worried that you may have made a mistake, the best thing that you can do is to tell an adult and they can help to put it right.
