Quick Tips to keep in mind for socializing safely online include:

• Do not give out or post personal information. This includes:
  • full name
  • address
  • social security number
  • phone number
  • school
  • sports teams
  • email address
  • parent's workplaces
  • information about family finances
  • credit card numbers
• Don’t give out anybody else’s personal information either.

• Make sure screen names don’t give away too much personal information.

• Remember that once something is posted, you can’t take it back.  Comments and photos may be saved somewhere and accessed later by teachers, college admissions officers, employers, law enforcement officers or even cyber bullies and sexual predators.

• Consider carefully if you want to post photos.  Ask yourself if you would be OK with anyone and everyone seeing the picture...for the rest of your life.

• Do not meet with anyone you know only through the Internet, not even if you are going to go with a friend.  Be cautious if someone you don’t know asks to meet you in person.  Tell your parents if this happens.

• If you feel suspicious, threatened or that someone is behaving inappropriately toward you, tell your parents or an adult you know and trust.  Report the problem to the social networking site and to the police. 

Additional tips for Parents:

• Learn about teen’s use of various sites and possibly create a social networking profile on the site your teen uses.  This may help you learn more about your teen’s online friends.

• Have guidelines and rules.  Consider discussing and signing an Online Safety Contract (example contract available at SafeKids.Com )

Tips adapted from the Federal Trade Commission Social Networking Sites:  Safety Tips for Tweens and Teens and the King County Library System Are Your Children Safe Online?