Anyone can pretend to be something or someone they’re not. Although you may think you are chatting with someone your own age, it may be an adult who is trying to exploit you by sending or asking for sexually explicit pictures.
- •Photos or videos you post on the Internet or attach to a text message may not stay private.
- •Sexting naked pictures with your boy/girl friend may seem harmless, but it’s against the law for anyone – including you – to take, send or receive sexually explicit pictures of a person under 18 years of age.
- •Get permission from a safe adult before you share pictures or video.
- •Don’t tell strangers online your name, age, address, or where you go to school.
- •Tell a safe adult if you see weird pictures online or someone asks you to keep secrets.
Tips for Parents
- •Educate yourself on the technology and the terminologies used on the Internet.
- •Stay involved and know what games your child is playing.
- •Pay particular attention to games that have a chat component. Be cautious about allowing your child to chat with their opponents.
- •Follow computer best practices such as installing anti-virus, firewalls, and keeping your software up-to-date to protect against hackers.
- •Review the social networking sites that your child visits and ensure that their online diary, profile, or photos do not contain identifying information.
- •Reinforce the public nature of the Internet and make sure your child understands that you will monitor their online activity.