"Chat Wise, Street Wise" is a series of pointers which offer a simple formula of precautions for young people (and their parents).
These tips should help young surfers avoid the unwanted attentions of people who may not appear exactly as they really are when they are on-line.
- Don't give out personal details, photographs, or any other information that could be used to identify you, such as your family, where you live or the school you go to.
- Don't take other people at face value - they may not be what they seem.
- Never arrange to meet someone you've only ever previously met on the Internet without first telling your parents, getting their permission and taking a responsible adult with you. The first meeting should always be in a public place.
- Always stay in the public areas of chat where there are other people around.
- Don't open an attachment or downloaded file unless you know and trust the person who has sent it.
- Never respond directly to anything you find disturbing - save or print it, log off, and tell an adult or report to CEOP.
Finally, we would recommend that children should only use online services specifically targeted at their own age range which have adequate levels of care and protection.
For more information for parents on protecting their children from those in chatrooms take a look at www.chatdanger.com.
There is also a new European Commission web-site that may be useful at www.saferinternet.org.
Click the above picture to download the Using the Internet - Guidance for Parents and Children leaflet (.pdf, 529Kb).
