This post is sponsored by Google. All photos and opinions are mine.
I recently had the opportunity to attend the “Be Internet Awesome” learning event for Safer Internet Day in San Antonio, Texas. This free event was open to the general public and local area schools in order to help kiddos learn how to make safer choices on the internet. The event was targeted towards third through sixth graders and taught them five basic principles for internet use: being internet smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave. They also gave the teachers and parents who came through the event a curriculum to be able to work with their students in a future classroom setting.
Come Together for a Better Internet with your family by using Be Internet Awesome starting with the program’s NEW Family Guide and then encourage your kids to put their skills to the test with Interland. You can also encourage your child’s schools to incorporate this curriculum into their schoolwork in order to come together for a better internet.
As always, I want to pass on some of the thought-provoking information I learned to you and your families in hopes that you can help your own kiddos make better decisions while on the internet and hopefully feel more at ease with them using it as well.
Being Internet Smart
Remember that whatever you post online, is there forever. So make sure what you post is positive, uplifting, and isn’t something you’d be embarrassed for someone to find later.
Think before you post. Make sure that whatever you put out there in cyberspace is something you don’t mind having your name tied to. If it’s unkind or untrue, it will come back to bite you.
Protect your secrets. Never post a password, address, or share other personal information with strangers. Not everyone has good intentions.
Don’t assume people online will read something the way you intended it. Tone is hard to show through text, so make sure that whatever you post can’t be misconstrued into something else.
Being Internet Alert
Always double check information you find online. Just because you read it on a website, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily true. Be smart about it and don’t believe everything you read.
Use secure websites. Secure websites are ones that have an “https” in the URL and a green padlock in the address bar. These sites are considered secure and will do a better job of protecting your information that unsecure sites.
Don’t fall for scams. If an email or advertisement seems to good to be true, it probably is. Unfortunately, not everyone in the world with a computer has the best of intentions, so make sure to never give out your information unless it’s a trusted site or friend.
Don’t be ashamed if you do get caught up in a scam. If you do fall for a “too good to be true” scheme, make sure to tell a trusted adult right away.
Remember that internet websites cannot tell if there is a problem with your computer. Scams like this are very popular. They’ll have a pop up window appear and will want you to click on something in order for them to “help” you with your computer issue. These are not real. Don’t fall for it. Scammers prey on people’s fears and know how to use it to their advantage.
Being Internet Strong
Creating a strong password is super important. A strong password is one that is at least 8 characters and has a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Always switch it up when it comes to passwords. Using the same password for everything may be convenient, but it sure isn’t going to help you if someone figures it out and is able to get into all of your personal information and accounts.
Your password shouldn’t be anything personal. Using information like your birthday, social security number, and address are the first things that hackers are going to try to use. Throw them off the scent by using something totally random. And please, I beg you, don’t use “123456” or “password”! Those are the most common passwords there are and you are just asking for trouble if you use them!
Change your password regularly. It’s just a good idea in case someone figures out your password so that the wrong people don’t get your information.
Being Internet Kind
The Gold Rule is always a good one to stick with. The Golden Rule states “Do unto others and you would have done unto you”. Be nice. Remember that there is an actual person on the other end of that social media post or email and always take the high road when someone isn’t necessarily treating you the nicest.
Be an upstander. And upstander is someone who is a defender. If you see someone being harassed or bullied online, stand up to that bully! Defend that person who is being attacked.
Take a negative and make it a positive. If you see someone being mean online to another person, your comment box to build up and support the person being attacked. Showing kindness can go a long way.
Make good decisions. The general rule should be, if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it all.
Being Internet Brave
Report negativity. Find something you shouldn’t? Report it. And if you don’t feel comfortable reporting, ask a trusted parent or teacher to do it for you.
Talk it out. If you’re unsure of something you find online or are thinking of posting, ask an adult to help you with it. It’s always good to get a second pair of eyes on things.
When in doubt, block. If you find something offensive, you have the right to report it or block it. Social media sites always have a way to shield you from the things you don’t want to see, so be sure to use the features they have available to you.
The best thing you can do to help your kids make good decisions online is to talk with them regularly about their usage, what they’re seeing, and how they’re avoiding not so great situations online. I hope you’ve learned a few tips to make the internet a safer, happier place. If you’d like more information, check out Google’s Safer Internet for Families site. Also, be sure to check out this awesome game from Google to teach your kids how to make safe internet decisions in a fun way! Remember to always share love and positivity!
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