The internet is a great invention, full of all sorts of information, funny sites, and opportunities to meet and talk to new people from all around the world. It is virtually unlimited and has changed the world forever. But in order to maximize the fun you can get from it, you need to be aware of the risks, what could happen to you while surfing the net and what you can do about it.

Risks on the internet

A lot of young people have personal profiles on websites these days, like Myspace, Friendster etc, and use the internet a lot to message and talk to other people or find new things. While most of the things you can do on the internet can be fun, there can also be risks as well. In order for you to get the most out of the net you need to be aware of these risks and help keep your self safe whiles surfing.

The main on line threats to young people are:

• Cyberbullying
• Sexual Exploitation
• Pornography and abuse

From bullying, by email and posting things up on websites, through to adults pretending to be young people, grooming and potential access to pornography, the internet can have it’s risks. If you are aware of these issues and know how to deal with them and what to do you can help keep yourself safe and enjoy the freedom the internet can offer.

Be aware and think about what you get up to. Not everything or everyone are who they say they are. If anything happens which makes you worry, if you are ever bullied over the net or you’re theirs something you’re not sure about, always talk to someone about it and get advice. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

Safety on the internet

Chat rooms and messaging can be great fun, but remember, you never really know who you are talking to online. It could be someone trying to trick you, some kind of weirdo, or someone really dangerous. Here are some tips to help you stay in control and keep safe:

• Be aware that people may not be who they say they are on the Internet. An adult could pretend to be another young person your age or a bit older just to get to know you. Sometimes they can do this over a long period of time to develop your trust. The internet is a great place, but you can’t always tell who’s on-line and what they really want.
• Don't give out personal information such as your address, telephone number, parents' work address/telephone number, or the name and location of your school without your parents' permission. 
• Tell your parents right away if you come across any information that makes you feel uncomfortable.
• Never use your real name in chat rooms – pick a special online nickname.
• Never agree to get together with someone you "meet" online without first checking with your parents. If your parents agree to the meeting, be sure that it is in a public place and bring an adult along because they might not be who
• Set up rules for going on line with your parents. Decide upon the time of day that you can be online, the length of time you can be online, and appropriate areas for you to visit. Don't access other areas or break these rules without your parent's permission. It’ll save arguments later.
• Always be careful on the internet. The great thing about it is that you can pretend to be someone else, but often others pretend to be someone they’re not as well.
• If anything ever happens on the net, always tell someone. Even if your not sure. Tell your parents, teacher, youth worker or someone you trust.

Links

www.ceop.gov.uk/

Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre was launched on 24 April 2006. The Centre provides a single point of contact for the public, law enforcers and the communications industry to report targeting of children online and offers advice and information to parents and potential victims of abuse 24 hours a day. It is based in London and will have up to 100 staff. It will also carry out proactive investigations and work with police forces around the world to protect children.

www.stopitnow.org.uk/

The stop it now campaign aims to raise awareness throughout society of child abuse and child welfare issues. They offer a range of advice and information regarding child abuse including what young people can do to help protect themselves online.

www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

The aim of this website is to help young people understand new technology and update young people about some of the risks they may come into contact with on the net. The website also has a reporting function which allows users to report abuse and potential abuse online.

www.kidsmart.org.uk/

Kid smart has a range of information on internet safety for children and young people. They offer a variety of resources, facts on filtering, and practical steps etc to help families create a safer environment for children and young people online.

www.nch.org.uk/

NCH also provide valuable information and advise to young people regarding internet safety and staying safe online.

www.getsafeonline.org/

Get safe online is a website which provides young people with simple to follow tips about internet safety.

www.safeteens.com/

Safe teen is a US website which also provides a range of information regarding internet safety.

www.nspcc.org.uk

The NSPCC website can also provide families with information which can help keep children safe online.

www.iwf.org.uk/

The Internet Watch Foundation is an organisation working with the internet industry, police and Government to make the internet a safe place for children and young people. The website has a range of information and advice which can help.