Safety tips for kids and teenagers

A few simple tricks will help you enjoy your time on the internet. Discuss these ideas with your friends and see if there are any more that you can come up with.

• Always be alert when on the internet while there are some excellent sites to visit there are also some bad ones like pornography, animal cruelty and hate sites.
• If something appears on your screen that disturbs you, tell your friends, a teacher or parent, or contact NetAlert on 1300 669 024 or by email to netalert@acma.gov.au for advice on what to do.
• Remember, you will not get into any trouble by letting people know what you have stumbled across.
• If you hear or see your friends getting into places that look unsuitable, remind them of the potential dangers and advise them on how to get out of the site.
• Keep all personal information to yourself (including photos, your name, the name of your school, the name of your family members and your phone number). Strangers might use your personal information in a way that you never intended them to.
• Chat rooms are great ways to talk to people but be aware that some people in them are not who they say they are. If someone or something disturbs you in a chat room, leave and find another one where there are people you like. Talk to your parents, carers or teachers about advice on how to deal with stranger danger.
• Not everything you read on the internet is true. Be smart and make decisions for yourself on what you think is right and wrong.
• Be careful downloading free games or files. People can trick you into clicking on a link that sends you to an unsafe zone or makes your computer download a virus.
• Only give your mobile phone number to your family and friends and if you start getting upsetting or annoying text messages, tell a teacher or parent.
• Always seek help from adults or friends. Mum and dad might not know as much about the internet as you, but they know about life and together you can work out any problem that you might encounter when online.

About NetAlert

NetAlert is the Australian Government’s online safety program, set up to protect Australian families online. NetAlert is part of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). It offers independent, sensible, helpful and reliable advice and information about potential problems, dangers and threats on the internet and ways to minimise or avoid these problems.

Tel: 1800 880 176
Email: netalert@acma.gov.au
Web: www.netalert.gov.au