Online/Digital Relationships
Social networking sites, like Facebook, Twitter and Tumbler
allow you to stay in connected with your friends and increase your social
circle. But they can also allow others to monitor your life and use information
to hurt you. And because you provide personal information on profiles, blogs,
and message boards, these sites may possibly be very dangerous.
It is important to wise and have healthy relationships, whether
they are with people you know in person or online. When people talk about using
social networking sites safely, they usually focus on strangers or predators. But
you are just as likely to be harassed or abused online by someone you know. There
are ways to have fun online and stay safe at the same time.
Don’t do or say anything online you won’t say in person.
Only post things you are okay with people seeing and knowing. Phone
numbers and addresses
will let people contact you directly, things like
school and team names, landmarks and photos
may also make it easier for people to find out
where you live, hang out or go to school.
Remember, it’s not just about you. If you post information or photos
about your friends or family,
they can
be at risk.
Don’t respond to harassing, abusive or negative comments. It won’t make
the person stop and it
could get
you in trouble or put you in danger.
Use the privacy preferences to keep your page as private as you can.
If you are in or coming out of a dangerous relationship, don’t use any
form of technology to
contact your abuser. It can be dangerous and may
be used against you in the future.
Save or keep a record of all harassing or abusive messages, posts, and
comments in case you
decide to
tell the police or get a protective order.
Never give your passwords to anyone other than your parent or guardian.
It’s a good idea to
choose
passwords that aren’t easy to guess, do not use the same password for all your accounts,
and to
change passwords regularly.
It may seem crazy, but if the abuse and harassment will not stop,
changing your username and
email
address may be your best choice.
Always report inappropriate behavior to the site administrators.
Trust your instincts! If you think something is wrong or are feeling
threatened, tell someone who
can help.
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