Online Safety Guide for Kids: 10 Tips

Here's a quick guide to keep kids safe online:

1. Keep personal info private
2. Use strong passwords
3. Be careful with online friends
4. Think before posting
5. Recognize and report cyberbullying
6. Use privacy settings
7. Watch out for scams
8. Balance screen time
9. Talk to trusted adults
10. Stay updated on safety tips

Key Safety Measures	Why It's Important
Protect personal info	Prevents identity theft
Use strong passwords	Secures accounts
Be cautious online	Avoids dangerous situations
Think before sharing	Maintains good online reputation
Report cyberbullying	Stops harmful behavior
Set privacy controls	Limits who sees your info
Avoid scams	Protects from fraud
Limit screen time	Promotes healthy habits
Talk to adults	Gets help when needed
Keep learning	Stays safe as tech changes

This guide helps parents and kids use the internet safely. It covers protecting personal info, dealing with online risks, and building good digital habits. By following these tips, families can enjoy the internet's benefits while staying safe.

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1. Keep Personal Information Private

Kids need to protect their personal details online. They should never share sensitive information on the internet, as bad people might use it to harm them.

Here's what kids should keep private:

Personal Information	Should You Share?
Full name	No
Home address	No
Phone number	No
School name	No
Birthdate	No
Email address	No
Passwords	No
Social Security number	No

Parents should teach kids to:

• Treat personal info like money - it's valuable and needs protection
• Be careful about what they share with apps and websites
• Remember that once something is online, it's hard to remove

When making online accounts, kids should:

• Use screen names that don't show personal details
• Avoid using birth years or full names in usernames
• Only post photos or videos with a parent's okay

2. Use Strong Passwords

Kids need good passwords to stay safe online. Here's how to help them make strong passwords:

1. Mix it up: Use big and small letters, numbers, and symbols.

2. Make it long: Use a phrase instead of a word. For example, "ILikePizzaWithCheese!" is easy to remember but hard to guess.

3. Keep it secret: Tell kids not to share passwords with anyone except parents.

4. Use a password tool: Try a safe password manager to keep track of passwords.

5. Change often: Help kids update their passwords every few months.

Good Password Habits	Bad Password Habits
Use different types of characters	Use simple passwords like "123456"
Make a new password for each account	Use the same password everywhere
Make passwords at least 10 letters long	Use personal info in passwords
Use a password manager	Tell others your passwords
Change passwords often	Write passwords where others can see

3. Be Careful with Online Friends

Kids need to be extra careful when making friends online. Here are some key tips to stay safe:

1. Keep personal info private

Don't share your:

• Full name
• Address
• School name
• Phone number

Even if someone seems nice, they might not be who they say they are.

2. Watch out for warning signs

Be careful if someone:

• Asks too many personal questions
• Uses grown-up words while pretending to be a kid
• Sends messages out of the blue
• Asks for photos or private chats

3. Don't meet online friends in person

Meeting someone you only know online can be unsafe. Always tell a parent or trusted adult if an online friend wants to meet.

4. Use privacy settings

Make your social media profiles private. Only add friends you know in real life.

Safe Online Behavior	Unsafe Online Behavior
Keep personal info secret	Share personal details
Tell adults about weird messages	Keep odd messages secret
Use privacy settings	Have public profiles
Only chat with known friends	Talk to strangers online

4. Think Before You Post

Kids need to be careful about what they share online. Here are some key tips:

1. Remember: Online posts last forever

Even if you delete something, others might have saved or shared it. Teach kids that anyone can see what they post online.

2. Think about the future

Posts can affect:

• Getting into college
• Getting scholarships
• Finding a job
• Friendships

3. Build a good online image

Help your child:

• Make a website or blog to show their good work
• Share about helping in the community
• Post things that show what they care about

4. Check what's online about them

Look up your child's name online sometimes. This helps you know what others can see about them.

Good Online Habits	Bad Online Habits
Share good things you've done	Post your address or phone number
Think about how others might see your posts	Share photos or videos that could get you in trouble
Use privacy settings	Be mean to others online
Ask before posting about other people	Post when you're angry or upset

Remember: What you post online stays online. Be smart about what you share!

5. Recognize and Report Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is when someone uses the internet to be mean to others. It can hurt kids' feelings and make them sad. Here's what kids need to know:

1. Know what cyberbullying looks like

Types of Cyberbullying	Examples
Mean messages	Sending hurtful texts or emails
Spreading rumors	Posting lies about someone online
Sharing private photos	Posting embarrassing pictures without asking
Fake accounts	Making a fake profile to tease someone

2. Keep proof

If someone bullies you online:

• Take pictures of mean messages
• Save hurtful emails or posts
• Write down when it happens

3. Don't talk back to bullies

• Don't answer mean messages
• Turn off your computer or phone
• Block the bully on social media

4. Tell someone

• Talk to your parents or teachers
• Report mean posts to the website
• Call the police if it's very bad

5. Get help

• Talk to a friend about your feelings
• Ask a school counselor for help
• Join groups for kids who've been bullied

Remember, it's not your fault if someone bullies you online. Telling an adult can help stop the bullying.

Good Things to Do	Things to Avoid
Save proof of bullying	Answer mean messages
Tell a grown-up	Share personal info online
Block mean people	Keep bullying a secret
Report bad behavior	Blame yourself
Ask for help	Bully others

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6. Use Privacy Settings

Privacy settings help keep your child safe online. Here's how to use them:

1. Why they matter

Privacy settings control who sees your child's info online. They help stop strangers from contacting your child or seeing their posts.

2. Make accounts private

Set your child's social media accounts to private. This means only friends can see what they post.

Platform	How to Make Account Private
Instagram	Settings > Privacy > Account Privacy > Turn on "Private Account"
TikTok	Profile > Settings > Privacy > Turn on "Private Account"
Facebook	Settings > Privacy > "Who can see your posts?" > Pick "Friends"

3. Check settings often

Social media sites change their privacy options. Look at these settings with your child regularly.

4. Be careful what you share

Teach your child to think before sharing personal info online. Don't post things like:

• Full name
• Address
• Phone number
• School name

5. Use parent controls

Many devices and apps have tools for parents. Use these to:

• Block bad content
• Set time limits
• Watch what your child does online

Remember: Privacy settings help, but talking to your child about online safety is just as important.

7. Be Careful of Tricks and Scams Online

Kids need to watch out for tricks and scams on the internet. Here's how to help them stay safe:

Know the Warning Signs

Teach kids to spot these red flags:

• Emails or messages from strangers
• Spelling mistakes
• Messages that say "Act now!" or try to scare you
• Weird email addresses or links
• Anyone asking for personal info

Stay Safe Online

Tell kids to follow these rules:

1. Don't click links or download files from people you don't know
2. Never share personal info online, like passwords or bank details
3. Be careful with online quizzes that ask for personal info
4. Ask a grown-up before joining contests or claiming prizes

Common Tricks That Target Kids

Trick Type	What It Looks Like	How to Stay Safe
Fake Shopping	Ads for very cheap stuff	Only buy from sites you know
Fake Contests	Games that ask for money or info	Ask a parent if it's real
Game Tricks	Offers for free game money or items	Don't share game passwords or click weird links
Pop-up Tricks	Windows that pop up with bad stuff	Use ad-blockers and don't click pop-ups

What to Do If Tricked

If your child thinks they've been tricked:

1. Stop and don't do what the message says
2. Block the person who sent it
3. Tell a parent or teacher right away
4. If you shared personal info, change passwords
5. Tell the Federal Trade Commission about the trick

8. Balance Screen Time

It's important to manage how much time kids spend on digital devices. Here are some ways to help:

Set Clear Rules

Make rules about when and where screens can be used:

• No screens during meals
• No devices in bedrooms
• No screen time before bed

Make a Family Plan

Create a plan that says when and how screens can be used. This helps everyone know what to expect.

Show Good Habits

Kids often copy what parents do. Put your own devices away during family time and do things without screens.

Do Other Fun Things

Mix screen time with other activities:

Activity Type	Examples
Moving	Playing outside, sports, riding bikes
Making things	Drawing, crafts, music
Being with others	Family game nights, playing with friends
Learning	Reading, puzzles, board games

Watch What Kids Do

Use parent controls on devices to:

• Make sure kids see good content
• Keep track of how long they use screens
• Set time limits for screen use

9. Talk to Parents or Trusted Adults

It's important for kids to talk to parents or trusted adults about what they do online. Here's why and how:

Talk Often

Have regular chats about online stuff. Ask kids about:

• Games they like
• Websites they visit
• Things they do online

This helps kids feel okay about sharing worries with you.

Make Kids Feel Safe

Talk about online safety in a calm way. Don't scare kids. Help them feel good about using the internet and coming to you with questions.

Show Good Online Habits

Kids copy what adults do. Use the internet safely yourself:

Good Habit	What to Do
Keep passwords safe	Don't share them with others
Use screens less	Put away your phone during family time
Be careful what you share	Think before posting online

Talk About Online Dangers

Tell kids about online risks in ways they can understand. Use everyday examples to talk about:

• Keeping things private
• Online bullying
• Bad content they might see

This helps kids think carefully about what they do online.

10. Keep Up with New Online Safety Tips

It's important to stay up-to-date on how to keep kids safe online. The internet changes fast, so we need to keep learning new ways to protect children. Here's how to do that:

Learn Often

Make sure you and your kids keep learning about internet safety:

• Talk with your kids about what they do online
• Go to classes about online safety
• Follow good online safety groups on social media

Use Good Info Sources

Get help from trusted places to learn about online safety:

Source	What It Offers
NetSmartz	Fun lessons for families
ConnectSafely	Guides for parents
Digital Wellness Lab	New info about online health

Watch for New Tech

Pay attention to new tech that might affect kids' online safety:

• Learn about new AI tools and how they might change online safety
• Know about new social media apps kids are using
• Understand risks of money apps made for kids

Conclusion

The internet gives kids many chances to learn and have fun. But it can also be risky. By using the 10 tips in this guide, you can help keep your kids safe online.

Remember, online safety needs ongoing work. As tech changes, new risks can come up. Keep learning about online safety and talk often with your kids about what they do on the internet. When kids feel okay talking to you, they're more likely to tell you if something's wrong.

Teach your kids to be good online citizens:

• Think carefully about what they see online
• Be kind to others
• Tell an adult if they see bad behavior

As kids grow, give them more freedom online, but keep guiding them. With the right tools and talks, you can help your kids use the internet safely and well.

Main Points	What to Do
Online safety is important	Use the 10 tips every day
Keep learning	Find out about new online safety ideas
Talk often	Ask your kids about what they do online
Teach good online habits	Show kids how to think about what they see
Change rules as kids grow	Give more freedom, but keep helping