Internet Safety

This video explains what the internet is, when it was invented and how it works. It covers how information, such as a website or a phone message, is sent over the internet. The video also touches on the dangers of the internet.

Duration: 3:29

Although there's many good things about the internet, there's also some risks that we need to be aware of.

Your privacy and reputation
As the internet can be accessed by millions and millions of people worldwide, anything that you put on it like a photo or even a comment about a game can be seen by all these people. It can also be very hard to remove something from the internet as other people can share it meaning that you don't have control over who sees it.

Online bullying or "cyberbullying"
"Cyberbullying" is bullying that can happen through text messages, social networks, gaming or anywhere online where people can view or share content. It includes sending or sharing negative, harmful, false or mean content about someone else. Sometimes it can be sharing private or personal information about another person causing embarrassment.

Inappropriate material
Some movies in the cinema have a rating which means that they're only appropriate for adults and this is also true for some of things that are on the internet. However on the internet they don't always come with a rating or warning and this sometimes means that children might see things on the internet that should only be seen by adults.

Who am I actually talking to?
The internet makes it very easy to chat to other people that are online. However unlike when you're chatting to your friend in the school yard, you can't normally see who you're chatting to online and they could be pretending to be someone that they're not. For example an adult could play a children's online game, pretend to be a child and chat to other children playing that game.

Security risks
A lot of things we do online like sending emails, shopping or banking require us to login using passwords to use our accounts. Some people try to steal other peoples passwords so that they can use their accounts. Always keep your passwords a secret, even from your friends, and only share them with your parents or guardians.

There are some simple rules we can follow that help us stay safe online. If you're ever unsure about any of these rules or feel uncomfortable, just ask your parent or guardian what you should do.

1. Keep your personal information safe
   Unless you have your parents or guardians permission, never give anyone your personal information such as your address, your phone number or details about your family.
2. Don't meet up with people you talked to
   When we're talking to people online we can't be sure they are who they say they are, even if they sent a photo to you. So we should never agree to meet with someone who we first talked to on the internet.
3. Get your parents to check photos
   Don't send photos or videos of yourself or others unless your parents or guardians have checked that it's OK to send them. If someone sends you a photo or video, show it to your parents so they can check it's OK.
4. Keep your passwords safe
   Sometimes when we are creating an account for a website or a game we need to choose a password that let's us "sign in" and access our account. Always keep these passwords a secret, even from your friends, and only share them with your parents or guardians.
5. Don't download or install without permission
   Never download something or install an app or game without getting permission from your parents first. Sometimes our computers can be broken when a "computer virus" is installed on them.
6. Don't respond to meanness
   Don't respond to someone who says something mean to you or makes you feel uncomfortable. Show the message to your parents or guardians straight away so they can help you.

Have a group discussion with your class or family about the types of activities you do online, the good things about them and if there are any risks. If you do think of any risks what should you do in the situation?

Remember, if you ever don't know what you should do, tell your parent or guardian about it and ask their advice.