PLAY IT SAFE: The Do's and Don'ts of Cyber Safety

This can include name, address, phone number, social security number, email address, school, work location, and photos.

• Do use strong passwords and make sure you’re on trustworthy sites.
• Don’t share it. This information is private.

This can include a parent, friend, support staff, or therapist.

• Do tell someone if anyone online asks for your personal info.
  • Telling someone can keep you safe. Ask what is and is not okay to share online.
•  Don’t trust strangers. They could use this information to hack into your accounts, steal your identity, spend your money, or share private photos/messages.

• Do be careful before opening attachments or clicking on links.
• Don’t open anything online without checking with the person that sent it to you to see if it’s real. Or ask another trusted person (parent, friend, support staff, or therapist).

• If something happens to you that makes you uncomfortable or upset, do tell another person right away (parent, friend, support staff, or therapist).
• Don’t do anything you don’t want to. Think before you act.

• Don’t believe everything you hear or see on the internet.
  • If you are unsure of what is true or not, ask another trusted person (parent, friend, or support staff) or do more research on it.

• Do set a timer to make sure you aren’t spending too much time on the internet.
  • Having an addiction with the internet can be unhealthy and damaging to your mental and physical health.
• Don’t forget about the real world!

• Do be careful about what you buy and how much you spend.
  • Make sure the site is trustworthy. Ask another trusted person (parent,
    friend, support staff, or therapist) if you aren’t sure.
• Don’t buy things online without permission (if you’re younger or live with a guardian). Don’t buy things for strangers online.

• Do treat others the way you want to be treated.
• Don’t say anything mean or inappropriate. Don’t become a cyberbully.

• If someone online asks you to meet them in-person, do make sure another trusted person knows (parent, friend, support staff, or therapist).
  • Ask to video chat first, and make sure someone else is with you.
• Don’t meet people you don’t know well. Not everyone online is who they say they are.

• Don’t take the internet out of your life!
  • As long as you follow these rules and “play it safe,” the internet is a great place to make new friends, find new hobbies, and learn new information.