Kids Rules for Online Safety (for pre-teens)

1.   I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents’ work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents’ permission.*
 
2.   I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.
 
3.   I will never agree to get together with someone I “meet” online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along.
 
4.   I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.*
 
5.   I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the service provider.
 
6.   I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission.
 
7.   I will not give out my Internet password to anyone (even my best friends) other than my parents.
 
8.   I will check with my parents before downloading or installing software or doing anything that could possibly hurt our computer or jeopardize my family’s privacy*
 
9.   I will be a good online citizen and not do anything that hurts other people or is against the law.
 
10. I will help my parents understand how to have fun and learn things online and teach them things about the Internet, computers and other technology.

 
 
*These rules are aimed mostly at pre-teens. It is now very common for older teens to upload pictures and some information about themselves on social networking sites, however caution is still necessary.