Students: Online Safety Tips from the Alabama State Counseling Department

ONLINE SAFETY TIPS FOR STUDENTS
HEADING BACK TO SCHOOL

School supply lists include plenty of items that will help set students up for success. Pencils, papers, notebooks, and calculators are important, but some of the most useful back to school supplies do not go in a backpack. Going back to school means many students will access the Internet both at school and at home. Teachers, parents, and other adults can provide students the following online safety tips, from

Stop.Think.Connect.’s parent and teacher resources:

Do not share personal information. Keep personal information about yourself private. This includes information about your family members, your school, your telephone number, and your address.

Be careful what you write or upload. Think twice before you post or say anything online. Once it is out in cyberspace, it is there forever. Do not post anything that you would not want your family, other students, teachers, or current and future employers to see!

Connect with care. Do not click on links or open emails from people you do not know.

Cyber criminals use emails and links that look okay to lure people into clicking. If you think an offer is too good to be true, it probably is.

Use strong passwords. Try not to use the same password for multiple sites. Make passwords strong and change them often.

Keep your belongings safe. Lock your computer and mobile phone.

Be a good online citizen. Understand that what you do online is the same as what you do in person. Be careful what you post or say about others.

Speak up! If you see something bad or inappropriate online, are contacted by someone you do not know or do not want to talk to, or see cyber-bullying take place, do not try to retaliate or get involved. Talk to a trusted adult and work together on how to solve the problem.

Many Stop. Think. Connect. National Network and Cyber Coalition Partners have additional online and computer safety resources for children and students, including Netsmartz Workshop, Connect Safely, iKeepSafe, and Savvy Cyber Kids.