How can adolescents be responsible and protect themselves in cyberspace?

Answer 1

The best way to protect yourself is NOT to share your private information, like your address, phone number, school, etc. with anyone on the internet. That means not to post that information anywhere, as well as not to give it out to individuals. It also means that you do not post personal information about your friends or family on the internet. If you want to protect yourself even better, don't post your real name on the Internet. That might seem harmless, but information can be found with just a name.

Also, remember that anyone can say anything on the Internet. A preditor could say he/she is a teenager and even post a fake picture just to get information from you. So, always think with your mind and not with your emotions. That great looking, smooth talking guy might be a much older person seeking his next victim.

And always remember, too, that your parents are not your enemies when they limit your involvement on the Internet. Part of being responsible is acting within the limits they set for you. Believe it or not, life has a way of teaching you things that your parents understand, but you probably don't understand yet.

And speaking of parents, if you believe someone is a threat to you or others, tell your parents!

One last "tip:" Never, never ask what you might think are harmless questions about yourself or people you know, or post anyone's phone numbers or other personal information on sites like WikiAnswers. There are reasons questions about non-celebrities or other very well-known people are not allowed on Q&A sites. The most important reason is personal safety.

Answer 2

The best way to protect yourself is NOT to share your private information, like your address, phone number, school, etc. with anyone on the Internet. That means not to post that information anywhere, as well as not to give it out to individuals. It also means that you do not post personal information about your friends or family on the Internet. If you want to protect yourself even better, don't post your real name on the Internet. That might seem harmless, but information can be found with just a name.

Also, remember that anyone can say anything on the Internet. A preditor could say he/she is a teenager and even post a fake picture just to get information from you. So, always think with your mind and not with your emotions. That great looking, smooth talking guy might be a much older person seeking his next victim.

And always remember, too, that your parents are not your enemies when they limit your involvement on the Internet. Part of being responsible is acting within the limits they set for you. Believe it or not, life has a way of teaching you things that your parents understand, but you probably don't understand yet.

And speaking of parents, if you believe someone is a threat to you or others, tell your parents!

One last "tip:" Never, never ask what you might think are harmless questions about yourself or people you know, or post anyone's phone numbers or other personal information on sites like WikiAnswers. There are reasons questions about non-celebrities or other very well-known people are not allowed on Q&A sites. The most important reason is personal safety.