Safety Tips for Teens

You can do a lot to keep yourself and your friends safer online - it's not rocket science, it's just common sense. Just remember, whenever you post online...
Some tips from Parry Aftab of WiredSafety.orgWired Safety

Everyone is watching - protect your info!

  • Put everything behind password-protected walls, where only friends can see (e.g. use Protected Posting or Xanga Lock)
  • Protect your password and make sure you really know who someone is before you allow them onto your friends or protected list (that cute 14-year old boy may not be cute, may not be 14... and may not even be a boy! You never know!)
  • Blur or morph your photos a bit so they won't be abused by cyberbullies or predators
  • Don't post anything your parents, principal or a predator couldn't see

This stuff goes on your permanent record

  • What you post online stays online - forever!!!! So thinkb4uClick!
  • Don't do or say anything online you wouldn't say offline
  • And, unless you're prepared to attach your Xanga Site to your college/job/internship/scholarship or sports team application... don't post it publicly!

Look out for your friends, too!

  • Protect your privacy and your friends' privacy too... get their okay before posting something about them or their pic online
  • Check what your friends are posting/saying about you. Even if you are careful, they may not be and may be putting you at risk
Parry Aftab is a security, privacy and cyberspace lawyer, as well as an author and child advocate. She is a worldwide leader in the area of online safety and parent and child Internet education. As Executive Director of WiredSafety.org, the largest online safety and educational program in cyberspace, Ms. Aftab helps prevent and investigate cybercrime. Copyright 2006 Parry Aftab, all rights reserved, duplication requests to Parry@Aftab.com

May 22, 2006

Intro to Blogging and Social Networking An open letter from Parry Aftab of WiredSafety.orgWired Safety

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.

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