These basic chatroom safety tips apply for most online chat
environments. But chatroom users should always be wary that when
online, people are not always who they say they are.
These rules apply to everyone, but it is key to protect children
who may not be more trusting.
- In open public chatrooms, always use a screen name or
nickname.
- Always keep your personal details private. Do not let people
know where you live, work or go to school.
- If you are in a chatroom and you start feeling uncomfortable
about what someone is saying, tell someone.
- People are not always who they say they are.
- Never give any bank details away.
- If you are sent inappropriate photos or videos, report it
straight away.
- Don’t say anything you wouldn’t want the public to know.
- Do not meet people you speak to online. If a child has met a
genuine friend, arrange a meeting with an adult present. If you are
an adult, tell a friend of your plans and have a back-up plan to
leave if you need to.
What parents can do to help
- Position the computer in your main living room so there is no
secrecy. This is the single most important thing you can do for
your child's online health and safety.
- Work as a team to set your boundaries. Discuss with your child
exactly which websites are appropriate for them to visit and which
are not.
- Explain to your child that they must tell you if they get any
strange or upsetting messages while chatting. Let them know that
you will not be angry with them nor will you ban the internet as a
result.
- Set strict time limits for internet chat use and enforce them.
Limiting your child’s time online can prevent them browsing
aimlessly and finding inappropriate material.
- Make it clear to your child that people in chat rooms are not
always who they say they are, no matter how often they chat to them
and no matter how well they think they know them.
- Make sure your child understands that they must never give out
personal information, especially about where they live or go to
school.
- Make sure that they use their chat time when you are in the
house so that you can check on them regularly.
- Don’t panic if your child knows more than you about the
internet. Speak to other parents and share tips on internet
security.
- Take an active interest in your child's online activity. Learn
to surf the web and chat online yourself. If you don't know how to
chat online, ask your child to teach you. This way you can get a
better idea of what they get up to and the sites they use.
- If your child uses chat rooms, promote the use of secure social
networking websites where your child isn’t so exposed to chatting
with strangers.