E-Safety

The Term E-Safety:

 Internet safety, or online safety, is the knowledge of maximizing the user's personal safety and security risks to private information and property associated with using the internet, and the self-protection from computer crimes in general.

  

Types and Etiquette of E-Safety:

 

 

  Context is everything. If kids want to have silly online names that conform to the convention of a particular online community and only their friends will see, fine. But for more formal communication -- like email addresses, posting comments, or anything to do with school -- have them choose a respectable screen name (though not their real name) that they wouldn't be embarrassed to utter out loud in front of, say.

 Take the high road (but don't boast about it). Chatting, texting, and status updates are all "in-the-moment" communication. But if there's an escalating sense of rudeness, sign off. No good will come of firing off a nasty comment. You can always write out a response to get something off your chest ... without sending it.

 Keep a secret. In today's world, photos, texts, and videos can be posted, copied, forwarded, downloaded, and Photoshopped in the blink of an eye. If you think something might embarrass someone, get them in trouble, compromise their privacy, or stir up drama of any kind, keep it to yourself -- and maybe delete it for good measure.

 Post only information that you are comfortable with others seeing – and knowing– about you.

Many people can see your page, including your family, the police, the college you want to apply to, or the employer you want to hire you. 

Never respond to rude or threatening messages whether in chat, newsgroups or message boards. Always leave if the conversation makes you uncomfortable. Never engage in a flame war. That is a shouting match (through text) conducted between 2 or more people. Never send an email in capital letters. That is considered to be shouting on the Internet.

Never say nasty or untrue things about others especially in public forums, newsgroups, or chat. These remain in many archives and you could be charged with libel. Never forward personal emails sent to you to others without checking with the original sender first.