Never share your passwords. Even with your significant other or your BFF! Yes, with parents. Especially if they ask. If someone in the lab was watching you log on/off, change your password to be safe. [See your teacher if you are concerned about your password.] Most importantly, you should change your password frequently!

Don’t post personal pictures, use cartoons or other images to represent your personality. Once a pictures is up, it’s there for everyone to see. Try using an avatar instead. One family discovered that their annual holiday photo was being used as a storefront advertisement in the Czech Republic (see the story here).see the story here Once a teenage girl discovered that her photo was being used as an advertisement for Virgin Mobile, halfway around the world (see the story here.)see the story here

Use a non-descript name – disguise your real name. Create an you use only for social networking. Don’t post anything you wouldn't want the public to see or know. Never post your home address, location of your school, your social life schedule, activities and your hangouts. You don’t have to fill out all the information on a profile, you can leave things blank. Use the privacy setting and never display your age or birth date. Predators look for that information.

Some people may appear to seem friendly, they use a screen name that seems like one a kid would use. They are out there to trick kids by pretending to be, a kid themselves, never trust anyone you have met from on line. Don’t trust them even if they send you pictures of a kid, saying its them. Predator will use any tidbit of personal information you share against you and will try to harm you.

Don't give out personal information to people you don't know. A last name and a town are enough for a predator to locate you. Don't assume that people are who they claim to be. Immediately end any communication that makes you uncomfortable and report it to a parent. Always use an alias.

A social network is to be social and stay in touch with your friends. Social networks aren’t for you to use to and be mean to others, spread rumors or post unflattering photos of anyone. If you see cyberbullying going on, report it to a trusted adult. Don’t become part of the bullying, and don’t be a bystander. Stand Up do not Stand By!

23% of students in grades 4-6 had been bullied "several times" or more. 20 % had bullied others. 17% of students in grades 6-10 reported having been bullied "sometimes" or more. 8% reported being bullied once a week. 19% said they had been a bully to others "sometimes" or more. (2001 study of 15,000 U.S. tudents.)

Never ever give out personal information such as your Social Security number or any bank account information. If you receive and asking about personal information or your passwords, tell an adult or delete it. It could contain a virus designed to steal data from your computer. (Phishing) Never share your parent’s credit card number, even if they give you permission to shop on line. You should only use it for that one transaction which you are allowed.

Don’t post when you are angry. Don’t share anything about your family situations and what is going on at home, that’s private. If you are being harassed, someone says inappropriate things, or does anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, tell an adult, then contact your ISP [Internet Service Provider].

If you use a chat room, do not forget not everyone is who they say they are. If someone keeps asking too many questions, trust your instincts, they’re probably a predator or a scammer, log off and block them. Remember honesty is the best policy, but you don’t have to put it all out there on BLAST!

Olweus, D. (2011). Bullying at school: What we know and what we can do. Retrieved from Copyrighted clipart images from Clipart.com. Create by Ms. Lauren A. Brown, Plouffe Academy Instructional Technology Educator Exercise for MA Design & Curriculum Fitchburg State University ∙ November 2012