Being Safe On-Line
Here are some tips everyone should follow while interacting on the Internet:

1)      Never give out personal information about yourself, members of your family, what school you attend, your telephone number, or your address.

2)      When you are in chat rooms be sure to follow the first rule and never trust anyone in the chat room.  The person you are chatting with may be much older than they pretend to be.

3)      If anyone harasses you online, says anything inappropriate, or does anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, contact your Internet service provider.

4)      If you ever become aware of the viewing, use, or sharing of child pornography online, immediately report it to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or tell an adult you can trust.

5)      Be aware that there are rules many Internet Service Providers (ISP) have about online behavior just as your school has. There are consequences if you disobey an ISP's rules.  If you break a rule the ISP may take action against you by disabling your account, and sometimes every account in a household, either temporarily or permanently or they could take legal action.  Be careful to follow these rules.

6)      If you are having problems at home, with your friends, or at school do not confide in someone on-line.  Take your problem to an adult.  There are also places you can trust and can call such as Covenant House 1-800-999-9999.  The people at Covenant House can provide counseling, refer you to a local shelter, help with law enforcement, and can act as a mediator with your parents.

7)      If you are thinking about running away, remember once again, someone on-line is not the place to take your problems to.  If there is no adult you feel you can take your problem to, call the National Runaway Hotline at 1-800-621-4000.  The hotline can really help you when you are depressed, being abused or thinking about running away.