Xanga Safety Blog Archive for May 2006
May 29, 2006
We all understand the Golden Rule… to do to others only what you want done to you. Well, the Internet golden rule is a bit different…it teaches kids not to do anything online they wouldn’t do offline. (Hopefully, they will then follow the original Golden Rule. 
Here is a guide that will help young people understand how to use good manners online. The better behaved we are online and more we respect others, the less likely we are to become the victim of a cyberbully, or be considered a cyberbully ourselves.
May 22, 2006
One of the biggest problems we have online is that no one thinks between their brain dump typing and clicking “send.” One of my friends, when she says something rude or inappropriate, smiles sweetly and says “oh, did I say that outloud?!” That’s because we all think rude and inappropriate things, but generally don’t say them outloud. There is a filter between what we think and our mouths called “being polite.” (There are special rules for being polite in cyberspace, called “netiquette.” You can learn more about these rules at Teenangels.org.)
My name is Parry Aftab. I head WiredSafety.org.
WiredSafety.org is the world’s largest Internet safety and help group, run entirely by unpaid volunteers from 76 countries around the world. We are a charity and promote safer and smarter use of interactive technologies and provide education, expertise and help to people of all ages online. We are an Internet safety watchdog group and are working with many large sites to help them create a safer environment and a better educated user group.
Xanga has agreed to post our safety tips and implement certain safer practices to help make sure that their users know what they need to know to protect themselves in cyberspace and enjoy the site safely. Part of this involves creating a special contact within Xanga to deal with serious matters and a program to make it easier for law enforcement to prevent and investigate cybercrimes and abuses:
- If you are a member of law enforcement, and need Xanga’s help, please contact Xanga here. Note that this is for law enforcement agencies and officers only. All other e-mails will be ignored if sent to this address.
- Schools and parents who have questions or need help should contact Xanga here. And if you need our help at WiredSafety.org with a cyberstalking, harassment or cyberbullying problem on Xanga, and you are unable to get help from them, reach out to WiredSafety.org’s cyberabuse reportline.
- If you suspect that you have encountered a sexual predator, immediately contact your local police department. You can also report Internet sexual predators at NCMEC’s cybertipline.