Having a family agreement or set of rules for using the Internet is a good idea. It’s a great way for parents and kids to work together on how to be safe, wise and responsible online. Here are some ideas to help you get started.
- I will always get my parents’ permission before giving out any personal information online. This includes my name, gender, telephone number, home or e-mail address, location of my school, my parents' work addressese, email addresses or telephone numbers, their credit card number information, and pictures of me or my family.
- When using the Internet, I will always use a pretend name or a nickname that doesn't let other people online know anything about me.
- When creating a password, I will make one up that is hard for someone else to guess but easy for me to remember. I will never reveal it to anyone (except my parents or a trusted adult) - not even my best friend.
- I will show an adult any message or Web site that makes me uncomfortable or threatened.
- I will NOT arrange to meet a friend I have made on the Internet unless a parent or an adult that I trust will be going with me.
- I will ask an adult first before opening any e-mail, files, links, pictures or games from people that I don't know or trust.
- I will check the source of the information I find online to see if it is true or not, and confirm it with a parent, teacher or librarian.
- I will practice responsible online behaviour: I won’t use the Internet to bully other people; post or send insulting, rude or mean messages about other people, ‘flame’ someone or make threats.
- I will give other people credit when I use their ideas or copy parts of their documents straight from the Internet in my homework or other projects.
- I will only download or use copyright material, including video, pictures, music and software, if I have permission from the owner or the Web site.
- I will not disable any filtering software my parents have put on the computer.
- I will only buy things online, if I have my parents’ permission.
